Ashkan Shafiei – Hunter

Ashkan Shafiei’s Hunter was recorded as part of the Artist Accelerator Program by Music in Exile — an initiative supporting immigrant artists with non-English language backgrounds to launch and grow their careers in Australia. For Ashkan, the program provided a powerful opportunity to redefine his musical identity within the Australian landscape. The five-track EP features four original tracks arranged for his band, alongside a heartfelt solo cover of “Chi Begam” by the legendary Marzieh. The recording process with Jonathan Boulet (Party Dozen, Body Type) was a special one as it was his first experience recording everything live as a full ensemble — a departure from the usual studio procedure. The result is a deeply personal and sonically rich body of work that captures the raw spirit of Iranian funk through a uniquely Australian lens.