The collaboration between Ukrainian musician ILYICH and Kurdish singer Hani Mojtahedy in the track “Frau Fisch” presents a poignant exploration of cultural and personal liberation through music. Featured on ILYICH’s album “Afterlife,” this track is a powerful response to the ongoing war in Ukraine, blending the rich textures of Persian and Kurdish music with contemporary cinematic soundscapes. Mojtahedy’s vocals, rooted in the traditional verses of Kurdish poet Hamid Sharifi, glide over ILYICH’s orchestration, transforming the narrative of a metaphorical female fish fighting against oppression into a haunting auditory experience.
“Frau Fisch” is not just a musical piece but a cultural statement. Mojtahedy, who founded Iran’s first all-female band, brings a deeply emotional interpretation to the lyrics, her voice a vehicle for conveying a spectrum of unspoken sufferings and triumphs. The conditions set by the Iranian Ministry of Culture—allowing performances exclusively for female audiences—underscore the thematic cores of restriction and freedom that permeate the song. ILYICH’s arrangement complements this narrative, with layers of strings, synths, and broken beats building a soundscape that mirrors the tumult of upheaval and the calm of hopeful beginnings.
ILYICH’s “Afterlife” album ventures into a series of semi-fictional narratives, where each track contributes to a larger story of grief, renewal, and resistance. With “Frau Fisch,” the collaboration with Mojtahedy exemplifies this theme, offering a rich, multi-dimensional experience that invites listeners to rethink the boundaries of musical genre and personal identity. Through their innovative use of traditional and modern musical elements, ILYICH and Mojtahedy not only craft a song but also forge a space for dialogue and reflection—a space where the past and the present converge to challenge and reshape the contours of cultural narratives.
