participant

I am Arman Peshtmaljyan, a composer, arranger, keyboardist/pianist, songwriter, and music producer. My composition "Chasing You" is about a strong energy which appearing in a person increases his adrenaline level.The jumbled rhythmic imagery that begins after the intro part is the very energy that chases everyone but that we unconsciously run away from. As a well-known musician in Armenia, I specialize in jazz, pop, folk, and fusion, but I have always sought to experiment and explore innovative perspectives in genres like Techno, D'n'B, Lo-Fi Hip Hop, Dream Pop, and Psychedelic Soul. As an indie artist, I write and release my own compositions, constantly evolving a signature sound, thanks to my rich and diverse musical background. I began my music journey in my early school years, studying at the Music School named after Alexander Hekimyan in Yerevan. I learned multiple instruments, including piano, percussion, guitar, drums, and harmonica, and my passion for music only deepened as I continued my studies at the Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas (piano and composition). Later, I pursued a master’s degree in Jazz Composition at the Basel Academy of Music, Jazzcampus in Switzerland. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of performing in many bands and continuing to develop as a composer. I am currently a member of the MVF Band, Goght Band, Yerevan Calling, Zestengusto, and the Armenian Navy Band (BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music). I also play periodically with the State Jazz Orchestra of Armenia. Recently, I launched my own modern jazz project, the “Arman Peshtmaljyan Group.” As an artist, I’ve also ventured into preserving and reimagining forgotten Armenian folk songs. I’ve rearranged and recorded pieces like “Nstir Im Gyamin” and “Amran Gisher,” marking the first-ever arranged versions of these gems. Most recently, I released “Zartir Nazelis,” an Armenian "tagh" transformed through ethnographic compilation by Komitas Vardapet. In addition, my work in the dream pop genre, such as “Ays Gisher,” has been recognized as pioneering in Armenia. Over the course of my career, I’ve had the honor of performing at various prestigious music festivals, including the Made in New York Jazz Competition (2014), the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (2018), the Caucasus Cultural Festival in Seoul (2016), and the Yerevan Jazz Festival (2015-2024), among others. I’ve also performed at the MIDEM Festival (2015), Center Stage US (2023), and will be part of the UN WEEK-END À L'EST in Paris (2024).