SHEN is an Iranian alternative underground rock band based in Canada, led by Kaveh Hashemi, who grew up in Iran during the Iranian revolution. Under the "guise" of SHEN, Kaveh, a self-taught singer/songwriter whose influences include The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Supertramp, has to-date written, composed, and released five albums of original songs consistently producing some of the best new alternative pop/rock sound heard in the contemprary Iranian music scene. This is evidenced by the 2011 release of "SHEN: Songs of Love & Protest (2006-2011)", a "Best of" compilation album, which proves that exposure to obvious western influences doesn't necessarily muddy the waters of an evolving modern Iranian psyche in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the gauntlet of western music, not to mention living in a world that is increasingly getting smaller and smaller, offers an exciting challenge to bands like SHEN who not only have answered the call but have found their own unique voice in the process , creating and contributing interesting new music to the enjoyment of the common fan in everybody. With brooding and biting lyrics in Farsi and Kaveh's surprising range delivering a well balanced delicate vocal that is rough enough when it needs to be, and haunting when needed, and music which is a fresh blend of deep layers of rock, alternative, pop, and classical genres further "enhanced" by his own Persian musical heritage and background, Kaveh has successfully created a sound that bridges the falsely perceived gap between East and West, while rejuvenating the ongoing global collection of Indy Rock/Pop music. - Bruce Bahmani, Iranian.com - August, 2011
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