The Rhyme&Rhythm Project’s first production is called ''Journey to the Real'', offering an intricate dance of spoken poetry by Nükhet Kardam with musical compositions by Amir Etemadzadeh.

Comprising a total of sixteen pieces, Journey to the Real interweaves poems inspired by Nükhet’s personal journey, symbolizing a universal journey both inwards and outward, on her search to discover the Source, the Creator that is not only in our hearts and also manifested in everything around us.

Journey to the Real will be released in three parts, each with a collection of pieces reflecting a different part of the journey.

With the first piece, Aroma, this series starts with the smelling of that fragrance that pulls us deeper, stepping into that place of in-between the visible and the invisible. We may fall into the depths of darkness where light resides, face and contemplate death, and yet keep going on this journey of the timeless caravan open to all possibilities.

Amir plays a variety of instruments (tanbur, oud, flute, frame drum) and creates beautiful music that gives new depth and meaning to the poetry. His music and the poetry mingle and dance, conversing with each other - sometimes whispering, sometimes screaming. The words and the music move in a dynamic give and take.

Each piece is unique and, yet, we believe that they all originate from the Creator.

It is a paradox that our creativity is ours and not ours at the same time.

Nükhet Kardam, Professor Emerita at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, is an author, poet and a music enthusiast. Originally from Turkey, where she was born and raised, she moved to North America for her graduate education in Gender Studies and Human Rights. She has maintained a strong connection to her home country even though she lives in the United States. Nükhet has researched and published three books and many articles on women’s rights and cultural identities. After retiring from teaching, Nükhet continued to pursue her passion for music by studying the piano and the frame drum, as well as curating workshops on living more creatively.

She has recently tapped into poetry as a means to communicate her message and her poetry comes to her in a state of silent meditation; it becomes a conversation - a conversation between the poems and herself, inspired by the Great Unknown. After focusing on intellectual pursuits for many years, Nükhet finds joy in living presently from the ‘heart’ and sharing her insights through poetry and music.

Amir A Etemadzadeh is a Middle Eastern musician, instructor, performer, and composer. Born and raised in Iran, he received extensive musical education from various masters over the course of his musical education. Amir studied Persian Traditional Music, known as Dastgahs, as well as Composition. Some of the instruments that Amir plays are Tombak, Daf, Setar, Flute, and Clarinet.

After arriving in the USA in 2003, Amir expanded his portfolio to include world music drums. He has continued his music education by studying classical composition and arrangement at UC Santa Cruz.

Because of his passion for spreading knowledge and culture about his Iranian heritage, Amir started Amir School of Music a couple of years after arrival in America. He is proud to have taught Persian and Middle Eastern music to more than 400 students in the last 15 years. Amir’s collaborations in the USA include numerous performances and recordings with various known musicians and music groups such as Ethel String Quartet, Hafez Modirzadeh, Ramin Zoufonoun, Miriam Pretz, Qadim Ensemble, Silk Road Festival, Cal Poly Middle Eastern Music Orchestra, and many more. Amir had also produced 2 solo albums called Torreh, and One Truth. Amir is passionate about bringing awareness to the community by organizing music and poetry nights. Amir manages his music academy "Amir School of Music" @ www.amirschoolofmusic.com