Born in Tehran and witnessed the fall of Berlin Wall at age 6 , Saba Alizadeh is currently based in the Netherlands, Saba is a prominent figure in Ira’s underground electronic/experimental music. A virtuoso of the Kamancheh, he embodies the spirit of Iranian classical music while
continuously reimagining its expressive and sonic possibilities. His work bridges tradition and experimentation, combining the precision of classical performance with exploratory approaches to sound and composition.
Active internationally since 2002, Alizadeh has collaborated with masters such as Hossein Alizadeh (Hamavayan Ensemble, 3 times Grammy nominated) and Christoph Rezaei (Nour Ensemble), as well as experimental musicians including Andreas Spechtl and Felinto. His performances have been featured at major festivals such as Flow Festival (Helsinki), TCS Festival (Berlin), Transborders (Austria), and Archipelago (Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid).
A graduate of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he studied Experimental Sound Practices, Alizadeh’s research and creative work investigate the concept of “Silence” across musical, historical, and socio-political contexts. Through archival and field recordings, he
examines silence as both a sonic and cultural construct-an active space of memory, resistance, and introspection-integrating these ideas into his compositional and performance practice.
In his compositional process, Alizadeh combines signal processing, no-input mixer , and modular synthesis with acoustic instrumentation, particularly the Kamancheh. This hybrid methodology enables him to explore the intersection of traditional tonality and electronic
abstraction, constructing complex sound structures that engage with ideas of temporality, instability, and texture.
“Alizadeh’s compositions are raw and deeply cinematic, each piece unfolding like a scene from a film that is at once historical and painfully present.”
Discography
Scattered Memories (2019, Karlsrecords – Berlin)
I May Never See You Again (2021, 30M Records – Hamburg)
Temple of Hope (2025, 30M Records – Hamburg)
Rituals of the Last Dawn (2026, Karlsrecords – Berlin)
In addition to his solo work, Alizadeh is the founder of Noise Works, a platform/label dedicated
to experimental and electronic music.
His film score for The Musician (dir. Reza Riahi), shortlisted for the 94th Academy Awards,
won Best Music at Fimucité and Tofuzi Festivals (2021). He also received a LOLA Award
nomination (German Film Academy) for his score for Empty Nets (dir. Behrooz Karamizadeh).