Drawing us in with reverberating bass notes, an intricate piano performance and a divine strings arrangement, Farbod Biglari opens Waltz for Baran (The Rain Waltz) with a timeless and cinematic energy. The opus immerses us with its high emotional quotient and haunting details.
It feels like the theme for a cerebral TV series, perhaps something like Nine Perfect Strangers with Nicole Kidman. The drum work that emerges has a contemporary appeal, driving the composition forward before stunning ethereal vocals emerge, resonating in line with the pizzicato details of the strings.
We appreciate the cinematic appeal, and learn that the piece is designed to pay homage to the timeless work of Italian composer Stelvio Cipriani, embodying a “delicate balance of nostalgia and elegance.” Born from a simple guitar melody in Farbod’s early teens, Waltz for Baran has evolved into a cinematic piece through collaboration with Maria Duque, blending personal reflection with poetic imagery and emotional depth.
The composer confesses, “The story behind this release began many years ago, when I was just 12 or 13 years old. I wrote the core melody on guitar during a quiet moment of reflection — a melody born out of innocence, emotion, and a sense of wonder. Over time, the fragment stayed with me, almost like a forgotten letter waiting to be opened. As I grew as a composer, I felt compelled to return to this early piece and shape it into something more expansive and cinematic. Waltz for Baran became a way to honour that early spark of creativity — a nostalgic dance between past and present, memory and melody.”
With reference to the recording process, he adds, “The initial recording of the main theme was done in my home studio in Vancouver — a quiet, personal space where many of my ideas are born. The setting allowed me to reconnect with the original emotion I felt when composing the melody as a child. Later, the orchestration and production were brought to life in collaboration with Maria Duque, who worked from her own studio. While the recording didn’t happen in a historically famous location, the personal significance of the space — filled with memory, solitude, and inspiration — played a vital role in shaping the sound and atmosphere of this piece.”
Naturally, we are in awe of the opus, and have added Waltz for Baran to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Farbod Biglari, including the entirety of his 2025 album, Nightmare.