Asal MalekzadehComposer and Daf Player
Asal Malekzadeh is an Iranian artist and composer who, drawing on the roots of Iranian music with a contemporary perspective, creates a fresh space of sound and rhythm. Her works revolve around the daf, emotion, rhythm, and the delicate fusion of traditional music with modern textures.
Throughout her artistic journey, she has sought to narrate Iranian music through the language of today; music that is rooted in culture while remaining tangible and listenable for a global audience.
Composition
Creating emotional pieces with an Iranian identity and a modern structure.
Daf and Rhythm
Using the daf as the beating heart of music and storytelling.
Modern Sound
Blending electronic, acoustic, and Iranian musical colors.
Experience
Over a decade
Art Journey
From spark to signature
Sound Identity
Daf, drums, cajón
The story of reachingAsal Malekzadeh’s artistic signature
This journey is not merely a list of years and achievements; it is the story of an artistic identity taking shape. From the moment the sound of the daf moved her as a teenager, to the years shaped by learning, practice, performance, teaching, festivals, and international experiences, she reached an independent and recognizable sound.
2000
Beginning of daf playing
Meinl
Artist of the German company
100%
The complete story of a journey
Tehran, May 12, 1987
The story of Asal Malekzadeh begins in Tehran; where her artistic vision became familiar with image, stage, color, and form before it reached sound. Studying theater and cinema makeup and receiving an international certificate in fashion design later influenced her artistic character; a character that does not merely play music, but sees it, designs it, and turns it into a narrative.
2000; the first serious encounter with the daf
At the age of thirteen, a simple moment became a turning point in her life. Watching two daf players perform affected her so deeply that the sound of the daf became more than an instrument; it turned into a profound, moving, and unforgettable feeling. That moment marked the beginning of a passionate path; a path that began with rhythm and led to artistic identity.
Training, practice, and understanding the roots
To build a solid foundation, Asal Malekzadeh studied the daf under teachers such as Sara Ahmadi, Mehrad Nobakhtpour, and Mehrdad Karim-Khavzi. To gain a deeper understanding of Kurdish rhythms, she trained for five months in Sanandaj; an experience that gave her playing depth, authenticity, and a living connection to the roots of Iranian rhythm.
From daf to tanbur and oud
Her path did not remain confined to the daf. Becoming familiar with the tanbur and oud expanded her sonic world and allowed her to experience music from more diverse perspectives. This stage was a period of discovering new colors of sound; where rhythm, melody, and Eastern feeling gradually came together.
2004; beginning to teach at the age of seventeen
Only a few years after beginning her training, she entered a new stage: teaching. Starting to teach at the age of seventeen showed that her artistic path was not limited to performance. From the earliest years, she passed her knowledge on to others, and education became a serious part of her professional identity.
Festivals, awards, and recognition
First place at the Eyvan-e Ayeneh Festival, an honorable mention at the Sanandaj Daf Festival, and first place at the Kermanshah Technology Festival were among the first serious signs of recognition in her professional path. These achievements were not merely honors; they confirmed that her personal sound was taking shape.
Professional presence in performance, theater, and music projects
As her path continued, her activities expanded; from stage performances and musical collaborations to participation in artistic and theatrical projects. Experience in theater, performance, and live music shaped her view of rhythm as something beyond technique; something connected to the body, stage, movement, and narrative.
Winter 2016; introduced as an artist of Meinl Germany
One of the important points in Asal Malekzadeh’s professional journey was her introduction as an artist of the German percussion company Meinl. This event carried her path beyond domestic performances and established her position as a serious musician in the world of percussion.
A feminine voice on a difficult path
Music for women in Iran has never been a simple or smooth path. Performance restrictions, the difficulty of receiving permits, and discouraging attitudes are part of the reality of this path. Yet Asal Malekzadeh, by continuing, teaching, performing, and creating, has shown that art can have a resilient and lasting voice in the face of limitations.
Asal Malekzadeh; daf, rhythm, emotion, and narrative
Today, Asal Malekzadeh is not merely a daf player; she is an artist who uses rhythm to tell stories. The daf, drums, cajón, stage experience, academic teaching, and her visual perspective have together created a signature that moves between Iranian music, contemporary performance, and feminine expression; a complete journey that still continues.
To create lasting music all it takes is starting the conversation
For composition orders, arrangement, professional collaboration, or more information about the production process of a work, you can use the contact methods below. Responses will be handled with respect and full attention.