Baku-born DJ and producer IRADA takes listeners on a breathtaking cultural and emotional odyssey with her new single “Shur” (feat. Shahriyar Imanov), released on October 9, 2025, via Tibetania Records. This Afro-House masterpiece reimagines one of Azerbaijan’s seven principal mughams, the classical modal systems that form the foundation of the nation’s musical heritage, through a modern, electronic lens. With deep Afro rhythms against the intricate spiritualism of traditional Azerbaijani sound, IRADA makes ancient, tribal music that comes off sounding futuristic, interestingly enough, and very much divine.
The song begins with rumbling, jittery drums and earthy percussion, evoking the sense of ritual and anticipation. Soon, clean, translucent Tar strings enter, weaving an intricate melody that feels like a prayer carried by desert winds. The soul of “Shur” lies in the live performance of the Tar, the quintessential Azerbaijani string instrument, performed by Shahriyar Imanov, a true master of his craft. His strings writhe and breathe into the atmosphere. As his notes dance through IRADA’s lush production, they anchor the track in a centuries-old tradition, even as the rhythm drives it into the pulsating heart of global club culture.
As the track builds, electronic pulses rise beneath the surface, shimmering, building, and expanding into a hypnotic wave of rhythm and light as a rich male voice comes wailing sensationally with his vibrato ringing gorgeously and soulfully. It even grows more and more passionate til it gets you gasping and eyerolling like it’s climaxing. His performance doesn’t just complement the groove; it elevates it, turning the track into something sacred and hymn-like.
By the time the final notes fade, “Shur” is an awakening, a musical meeting of worlds, where Azerbaijan’s ancient soul meets the global beat of now. Check out the music video on YouTube.
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Review by: Naomi Joan