Armen Ra
Encyclopedia
Armen Ra is an American artist and performer of Iranian-Armenian descent.
Born in Tehran
, Iran
, he was raised by his mother, a concert pianist, and his aunt, an opera singer and Ikebana
master. He taught himself to play Theremin
. His music fuses Armenian folk music with modern instrumentation, along with melodic lounge standards and classical arias. His concerts are known for their combination of both visual arts and his music.
Armen Ra has played at The United Nations
, Wiener Konzerthaus Mozartsaal Vienna
, CBGB
's, Knitting Factory
, La MaMa E.T.C.
, Joe's Pub, Boulder Museum of Modern Art, Lincoln Center, The Gershwin Hotel, B.B. King Museum, and Dietch Projects. He has been featured on and appeared in: CNN
, HBO, MTV
, VH1
, Vogue
, The New York Times
, The New York Post, The Village Voice
, Rolling Stone
, and Glamour
.
He has performed and recorded with various bands and on many projects (including a collaboration with British recording artist Marc Almond
, on the song "My Madness & I" from his 2010 release, Varieté). His debut solo CD, Plays The Theremin (released on Bowl & Fork Records in 2010) showcases many Classical Armenian laments and folk songs, representing both Armen's Heritage and his very first musical influence.
He currently resides in Hollywood, California.
In October 2010 Armen appreared as a guest judge on the Logo
Network show The Arrangement
Born in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, he was raised by his mother, a concert pianist, and his aunt, an opera singer and Ikebana
Ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as .-Etymology:"Ikebana" is from the Japanese and . Possible translations include "giving life to flowers" and "arranging flowers".- Approach :...
master. He taught himself to play Theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
. His music fuses Armenian folk music with modern instrumentation, along with melodic lounge standards and classical arias. His concerts are known for their combination of both visual arts and his music.
Armen Ra has played at The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Wiener Konzerthaus Mozartsaal Vienna
Konzerthaus, Vienna
The Konzerthaus in Vienna was opened 1913. It is situated in the third district just at the edge of the first district in Vienna. Since it was founded it has always tried to emphasise both tradition and innovative musical styles.In 1890 the first ideas for a Haus für Musikfeste came about...
, CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's, Knitting Factory
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
, La MaMa E.T.C.
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is an off-off Broadway theatre founded in 1961 by Ellen Stewart, and named in reference to her. Located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, the theatre grew out of Stewart's tiny basement boutique for her fashion designs; the boutique's space acted as a theatre for...
, Joe's Pub, Boulder Museum of Modern Art, Lincoln Center, The Gershwin Hotel, B.B. King Museum, and Dietch Projects. He has been featured on and appeared in: CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, HBO, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The New York Post, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, and Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
.
He has performed and recorded with various bands and on many projects (including a collaboration with British recording artist Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
, on the song "My Madness & I" from his 2010 release, Varieté). His debut solo CD, Plays The Theremin (released on Bowl & Fork Records in 2010) showcases many Classical Armenian laments and folk songs, representing both Armen's Heritage and his very first musical influence.
He currently resides in Hollywood, California.
In October 2010 Armen appreared as a guest judge on the Logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
Network show The Arrangement
The Arrangement
The Arrangement can refer to:* The Arrangement: A Novel, a 1967 work by Elia Kazan* The Arrangement , a film directed by Elia Kazan, adapted from his novel...
External links
- Official Website
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5l_FHGWfEArmen Ra at a benefit concert on April 4 at the Angel Orensanz CenterAngel Orensanz CenterThe Angel Orensanz Center is located at 172 Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side of New York City, New York...
in New York]