Lowen is a London based Middle Eastern progressive band with doom and global music influences comprised of Nina Saeidi on vocals, daf, santoor and more, as well as Shem Lucas on guitars. They are joined by a full band when performing live.
The band focuses on the displaced identity of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nina Saeidi, who was born into exile from Iran in the UK. In Iran playing metal is illegal and women singing unaccompanied risk execution.
The ancient world, its art and languages, form a backdrop for an exploration of the pain and longing of the diasporically dispossessed in her mournful wails and use of traditional tahrir vocals unique to Iran.
Their most recent album Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran received a perfect 5/5 from Kerrang, 9/10 from Metal Hammer, awarded #2 Prog Album Of The Year and #9 Album Of The Year in Metal Hammer. They also placed at #29 in Kerrang’s Album of The Year list, and made the end of year lists at Knotfest, Invisible Oranges, and Bandcamp among others.
The release gained Lowen feature print coverage in Kerrang, Metal Hammer, Revolver and Aardshock as well as an Orange Amplifiers Spotlight feature. Scream Blast Repeat named guitarist Shem Lucas as their #4 Top Guitarist.
Lowen have toured extensively, playing Download, ArcTanGent, Bloodstock, and more festivals across Europe.
The band sold out their headline show at the Camden Underworld, where they were joined by horned bellydancers alongside cellist Arianna Mahsayeh.
Their previous releases include “A Crypt in the Stars” and a live improvised acoustic EP entitled “Unceasing Lamentations”, which was sung in Sumerian and Akkadian.
