Worlds collide

Imagine an autumn day. You’re on a hill overlooking the Balkan sea, accompanied by a refreshing breeze that brings with itself a set of new feelings, inspirations, and thoughts.
The Collide Project provides us with the sound that might allow us to imagine it even if we’ve never experienced it. A local band formed by York composer Behnam Jahanbeiglou, The Collide Project came together in 2013. Their melodies are inspired by Eastern music, a fusion of Balkan and Middle Eastern vibes.
Although The Collide Project is an instrumental band, York vocalist Ekaterina Pyatkova provides a soprano punch to the music. The Collide Project will hold their album release party at House of Moments on January 25.
Having moved to Canada in 2000, it didn’t take Jahanbeiglou long to establish himself as a respected musician in this country.
Excalibur: Why the title “Collide”?
Is it relevant to the musical fusion incorporated in the sound? And do you find it hard to frame your music around a specific style or genre?
Benham Jahanbeiglou: “Collide” is self-explanatory, I believe: a collision of folk and cultural melodies in one pot. We have chosen an international/universal/instrumental approach with The Collide Project because I see this band as more of a long-term platform and opportunity to bring musicians from all corners of the globe and hear the fusion of different sounds. I think Toronto, in particular, is the perfect city to take such an approach. With regards to the genre, I guess alternative fusion would be a style that best fits our sound, but we have rock, metal, classical, and pop backgrounds, which you can hear from time to time in our tracks.
E: What has been the biggest reward and the biggest challenge?
BJ: The reward has definitely been being acknowledged by a community of international artists, getting noticed by Canadian producers, and most importantly, as with other bands, working off one another to create something bigger than all of us. Starting a musical dialogue with great potential to dive into the international scene and really do some things that have never been done before in terms of mixing and matching diverse melodies. The biggest challenge, I guess, is really getting prepared for the release party. Aside from the technical difficulties and handwork recording an album requires, making sure the party is up to our standards was difficult. We’ll also be giving away free albums at the door to make sure our fans understand that loyalty is a two-way street for us.
E: How has York influenced you in your success?
BJ: Without question, the music program at York has opened my eyes and ears tremendously to various sounds of the world. The program offers a unique approach to multiculturalism, specific classes,
and truly amazing professors. In terms of networking, York is one of the main reasons The Collide
Project found success; I met Ekaterina Pyatkova in a Balkan music course, and ever since, we’ve been able to integrate what we’ve learned in that class into our own music.
E: What’s next for the band?
BJ: The Collide Project looks to expand further into the community of international artists, with a window of opportunity to actually become multicultural. Having fans from diverse cultures, we are now getting to be known around Canadian producers, professors from York, [getting] invitations to different venues for opening shows, surprisingly enough from metal bands. It is looking very positive for the band. As far as I go, I’ll be looking to get a solo career going again soon, releasing single tracks from time to time online until further notice.
Azad Imanirad
Contributor