A Montreal duo on tour in San Diego navigate a clash of cultures, between the East and West, as they use art to bring people together.
The music and mission of the group Niyaz is to create bridges between cultures as well as between the past and the present. The word "niyaz" means "yearning" in Farsi.
"I think the most bold thing about our music may be for some people that it transcends cultural boundaries," said Azam Ali, lead singer for Niyaz. "Even though we are singing in languages that people cannot understand."
Ali sings in Farsi, Turkish, Kurdish, Dari, Urdu and Arabic on the band's latest album, The Fourth Light.
Niyaz will bring their blend of acoustic, electronic, traditional and original compositions to the Price Center Theatre at UC San Diego on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The address is 9500 Gilman Drive.