Born in Iran and now based on Gadigal land (Sydney), Hamed Sadeghi is a multi-award-winning Persian-Australian tar player and composer. Known for his seamless fusion of Persian classical music with Western contemporary and jazz traditions, Sadeghi’s work reflects his cultural heritage and innovative musical vision shaped by his training in Tehran as a Persian classical musician.
Sadeghi leads and collaborates on a variety of projects, including regular solo tar performances that showcase his technical mastery of the distinctive stringed instrument. His compositions are marked by intricate melodic and rhythmic ideas, and praised for their ability to bridge musical traditions while maintaining a clear sonic intention. His work exemplifies the power of cross-cultural musical dialogue.
As the founder and lead composer of Eishan Ensemble, Sadeghi has released three critically acclaimed albums and toured extensively across Australia, Asia, and Europe. Eishan Ensemble’s fusion of Persian chamber music and contemporary jazz has positioned the group as a leading voice in world music. The ensemble has performed at renowned venues and festivals, including the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, WOMADelaide, Auckland Arts Festival, and Rome Jazz Festival.
Sadeghi is a member of Vazesh, a long-form improvising trio featuring Lloyd Swanton (The Necks) and Jeremy Rose (Earshift Music). The group is inspired by the Persian Radif and spiritual jazz. Their performances are influenced simultaneously by the vibe, audience, venue and elements around it.
His orchestral project, Empty Voices, features prominent Australian jazz luminaries such as Sandy Evans, Paul Cutlan, and Lloyd Swanton, alongside Michael and Thomas Avgenicos, and Adem Yilmaz. Supported by Create NSW and the APRA AMCOS Art Music Fund, the project recorded and album intended to define a new form of beauty and present a forgotten love through music
Sadeghi’s compositions extend beyond music performance into theatre, dance, and film. He has scored works for major institutions including Belvoir Theatre Sydney, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company, and Sydney Film Festival. His versatility as a composer has earned him recognition in these fields.
Among his many accolades, Sadeghi has been nominated for ARIA Awards in both the Best World Music Album and Best Jazz Album categories. He has also been a finalist for the APRA Art Music Awards and nominated for Best Original Score at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
As a classical Persian music soloist, Sadeghi has performed with notable Iranian figures, including maestro Shahram Nazeri and Aziz Shahrokh.
Through his intricate compositions and cross-disciplinary projects, Hamed Sadeghi continues to explore the intersections of culture and sound, inviting listeners into a world where musical traditions converge in unexpected and profound ways.