Artist: Nashaat Salman
EP: Universal Melodies Vol. 1
Production: All music composed, arranged and produced by Nashaat Salman; Recorded in Zurich, Switzerland; All tracks mastered by Universal Mastering Studios (UMS)
Enthrallingly making people around the world interested in your distinct and unique culture, and naturally making them feel as though they understand your values and experiences, is no easy feat. But captivating their interest, and making them feel as though they can emotionally relate to your society, without any words can be even more challenging. But composer and musical orchestrator Nashaat Salman intriguingly did just that with his recently released EP, ‘Universal Melodies Vol. 1.’ The album thrillingly forgoes using any vocalists, and instead attracts listeners to understand the Swedish musician’s diverse interest in different heritages through his intriguing instrumentals.
Salman fascinatingly proves that he has a natural talent for composing music for programs for radio, television and other multimedia projects with ‘Summer Night Joy,’ the first track on ‘Universal Melodies Vol. 1.’ On the introductory song, which also ultimately proves to be the best and most intriguing one on the EP, the composer reveals his true soul with his vibrant and soothing Latin and Middle Eastern-infused jazz piano playing. Combined with light percussion, horns and a Spanish-infused guitar lead, Salman also proves his interest in offering the back drop for care-free and exuberant dancing. The song is also diverse enough that it can authentically be the backdrop for a light-hearted scene in a telenovela or Bollywood film.
‘Dancing Star,’ the next entry on ‘Universal Melodies Vol. 1,’ powerfully emphasizes more Latin and Middle Eastern-infused traditional pianos, while also intriguingly highlighting a modern electronic beat and entrancing keyboards. The electronic beat helps bridge the gap between the traditional and modern notes that Salman clearly appreciates, and showcases that people can value the worth of both their familial and modern cultures. The composer also features a radio edit of the song on the EP, which captivatingly places more of an emphasis on the modern electronic beat, but still embraces more traditional Middle Eastern traditions through the soothing piano.
Salman’s EP also features the Middle Eastern-inspired track, ‘Chasing,’ which also offers listeners an insight into appreciating the culture through his intense use of percussion and high-tuned wood instruments. The song is so versatile that it sounds like it’s a good fit for video games, particularly through its with its ’80s-inspired notes. But its distinct beats also make it diverse enough for listeners to repeatedly dance to it without tiring of its sound.
The multimedia music composer, instrumentalist and orchestrator powerfully proves his appreciation of valuing traditional beliefs, while also embracing the swift change in modern beliefs, throughout the four distinct tracks on ‘Universal Melodies: Vol. 1.’ While it can be difficult to translate your experiences and instruments in music without featuring vocals, the Meilen-Zurich-based Salman smartly infused his instrumentals with distinct influences from different cultures and values. The electronic-world EP intriguingly proved how liberating and soulful embracing different opinions can be through its diversified orchestrations.
For more information on Salman, visit his official website, as well as his Facebook and Twitter pages. Stream ‘Universal Melodies’ on Spotify, and watch the video for ‘Summer Night Joy’ below.
Written by: Karen Benardello