Opium Moon

Opium Moon is a sensual and groovy collaboration of master musicians Lili Haydn on Violin/Voice, Hamid Saeidi on Santoor (Persian hammered dulcimer), MB Gordy on ancient percussion, and Itai Disraeli on fretless bass. We come from the corners of the world—Israel, Iran, and the US—making peace through harmony. Our name was inspired by a poem by the great Sufi poet Hafiz, in which he says:
The bird’s favorite songs
You do not hear,
For their most flamboyant music takes place
When their wings are stretched
Above the trees
And they are smoking the opium of pure freedom…
I once asked a bird,
“How is it that you fly in this gravity
Of darkness?”
She responded,
“Love lifts Me”

"Bliss-inducing original music...My response was the reviewer’s equivalent of a spiritual visitation." --L.A. Times
"One of the most astonishing, deep & soulful music experiences in recent memory." - KCET


Lili Haydn – violin and voice

~Rolling Stone called her music “fiery and virtuosic...” George Clinton called her "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin."

Lili Haydn has released five critically acclaimed recordings as a solo artist, which have been a favorite on NPR, praising her as "A mix of neo-psychedelic flower child and rock star virtuoso...Heifetz meet Hendrix.

Lili is also known for her legendary collaborations; she has played with, sung with, and opened for everyone from Roger Waters, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Josh Groban,, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and George Clinton's P-Funk All Stars to name a few. Both as a solo artist and as support, Lili has toured the world and performed in premiere concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Opera House and the Hollywood Bowl.

This year Lili joined forces with master musicians from around the globe to form O P I U M . M 0 0 N, a sensual and groovy collaboration of Violin/Voice, Santoor (Persian hammered dulcimer), ancient sounding percussion, and fretless bass. Their album, Ruminations will be released early 2018.

In addition to Lili's extensive recording and touring career, you can hear Lili’s unique sound in over 50 films (Pirates of the Caribbean, Ben Hur, Snowpiercer), both as solo violin and voice, and as composer (Anita, Transparent, etc.).

A humanitarian and activist, Lili also performs regularly for human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, with the believe that music has the power to uplift and heal.


Hamid Saeidi - Santoor

Dynamic. Captivating. Transcendent.

These are the words critics and music lovers around the world use to describe musician, producer and award-winning composer Hamid Saeidi’s work. His composition, Imaginary Knots, coalesces classical Persian themes with contemporary, tour de force instrumentation to create a truly unique, truly magical experience.

Over his career, Hamid has composed musical scores for more than 30 films, television programs, dance and theatrical presentations, receiving awards at the Beirut film festival (2002), the Iran TV Festival (2002-2004-2007) and the Society of Critics of Theater in Iran (2005).

In recognition of his accomplishments on the international stage, The Farhang Foundation in Los Angeles commissioned original multimedia compositions by Hamid in 2011 and 2012 for their annual Nowruz celebration of Persian culture at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

He is currently collaborating and touring with an eclectic group of musicians and performers who span several musical traditions, giving their audiences a direct experience in the transformative power of music.

MB Gordy - Percussion

Genre is an illusion, and M.B. is proof…having played with artists as diverse as the LA Philharmonic and The National Symphony to Beck, Michael Buble, The Doobie Brothers, Guns and Roses, Green Day, Josh Groban, and many more.

M.B. Gordy’s groove is ubiquitous, having played on over 300 top box office films, including Frozen, X-Men series, and Harry Potter series, to name a few.

His newest collaboration with O P I U M . M 0 0 N reveals an inner mystic whose ancient groove is simultaneously hypnotic and seductive.

Itai Disraeli - Bass

Itai Disraeli is an award winning bass player, composer, and co-founder of the band MAETAR. His innovative style is informed by his Middle Eastern heritage, and collaborations in music from Jazz, Indian, Rock, and Funk.

He's played with Jackson Browne, Larry Coryel, James Gadson, and Nishat Khan, among others. His music has been licensed for TV and film and he has contributed to humanitarian and peace organizations, believing that music has the power to heal and connect.


Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-868186193

Contact: Lili Haydn
213.400.2800
lili@lilihaydn.com

opium.moon.music@gmail.com