Edinburgh Napier University

An Edinburgh Napier University student who used his Masters in Music to combine the genres he fell in love with in his native Iran has collected his degree.

Equipped with newfound knowledge from his studies, Hossein Paeizi merged metal music and Iranian classical music into a fusion style he believes may be unique.

Hossein, who moved to Scotland in 2023 to study at ENU, was awarded his degree during a graduation ceremony for students from the School of Arts & Creative Industries at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall today [Thursday 31 October].

The 30-year-old’s passion for metal music was established during his childhood in Tehran, where the genre has been celebrated by an underground scene as a voice of resistance against the country’s government.

Hossein says his Masters research at ENU was inspired by that defiance.

“Music always played a huge role in my life,” he said.

“I was drawn to it somehow. When I was 19 to 20 and I was really serious about being a musician, I started to think about merging these kinds of music together.

“But I knew I needed to learn more about the tools of music and the theory behind it – which brought me here.”

After putting his idea of combining metal with Iranian classical music to academic staff at ENU, Hossein delved into his work.

He added: “I realised early on that that there was no cohesive method of teaching the compositional structure of Iranian classical music.

“This led me to propose a framework that not only supports the creation of fusion music but also provides a methodological understanding of Iranian classical melodies using Western music theory.

“Beyond the technical and musical dimensions, my project carries a strong political and cultural message.

“In a time when Iran is often depicted in one-dimensional narratives, my work seeks to unite two seemingly disparate cultures.”

Hossein now hopes to take his Masters project further in future, potentially pursuing doctoral research into the combination of genres.

Hossein concluded: “I believe that this is a solid foundation for creating a new type of fusion, while also opening new avenues for cross-cultural dialogue through the universal language of music.”