Parjam Parsi’s 2016 album, Empty Spaces, is a beautiful and heartfelt collection of compositions that showcases his skills as a composer, producer and instrumental performer. Hailing from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, Parsi has a background in classical music and traditional performance disciplines, which is evident in the way he meticulously crafts his pieces.
The album, which was released by Winter Music Entertainment, tells a story about a man who is grieving for the woman he loves. The story is based on a short story written by Parsi in 2016, about a man arriving in an unknown city called ‘Fear Land,’ where citizens have lived for thousands of years under an ancient spell. The stranger falls in love with one of the most beautiful women in the city, and they become parents to two beautiful twins.
But the curse suddenly finds its way into their lives, making everything upside down. On that day, he wakes up in the middle of the black forest near the city. He lost all his memories and has no idea what happened to him. By every step he takes, he remembers small pieces to find his situation. When he arrives home, he looks at three graves dug out near his house.
While wondering where his family is and what happened to them, he hears the laughter of his twins and his wife singing a mystic song. Taking his hand and kissing him passionately, she asks him to join them for dinner. In the middle of dinner, the sound of the church bell is heard in the distance, and the man falls to the ground.
The album contains a total of twelve tracks, all of which are beautifully arranged and recorded in Parsi’s private studio called ‘Somewhere Records,’ with Jonathan Gasparian and the Dark Clove Ensemble. Each track is an emotive and hauntingly beautiful piece that takes the listener on a journey through the grieving process.
One of the standout tracks on the album is “The Pulse of the City.” The track begins with a simple piano melody that slowly winds its way to craft a minimal and dazzling sound. Another highlight is the album’s closing track “Nothing to Be Said.” The piece offers Parjam’s delicate piano tones, that ends the album with a sense of hope and optimism that’s both uplifting and inspiring.
Overall, Empty Spaces is an elegant and deeply moving record that displays Parsi’s skills as a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. The album is a testament to the power of music as a means of expressing complex emotions and telling stories, and Parsi’s ability to do so with such honesty and sincerity is truly remarkable. If you’re a fan of emotive and hauntingly beautiful music, then Empty Spaces is an album that you don’t want to miss. Archive