As a woman, Marjan Vahdat is highly restricted in performing in public in her home country, Iran. She met guitarist Jason Carter at the third Freemuse World Conference in Istanbul in November 2006, and they decided to meet again in Germany. 

In January 2007 they recorded 'Navai' in a room with a stereo pair of Neumann microphones plugged into Jason's Mac computer.

"The communication that Marjan and I have in music is quite special. We discovered this during those moments in Istanbul. We love 'Navai' because we can hear the communication between ourselves, like we are ‘breathing’ at the same time, in the same places," explains Jason Carter.

"As this is the first collaboration, I think we see this as the beginning of something for both of us. I think it is a wonderful beginning. If we can communicate like this with so little history in performing together, then I think we really have something to say to people through music."

About the lyrics of 'Navai'

The lyrics of 'Navai' are written by Tabib Esfahani. In Persian, 'Nava' means 'a beautiful voice', maybe someone asking and calling it. And 'Navai' is a character who has a long story. The melody of 'Navai' belongs to the Khorasan region in Iran.

Translation of the lyrics:

1st verse:

Sorrow lies deep in my heart,
as Leyli sits majestically on Mahmal

2nd verse:

Please do not break my heart
as it is like a wild bird
and it may fly away
and may not be able to return willingly

"When you follow the Mahmel
try to move delicately
as dust may spread and tarnish the Mahmel"

As I follow the Mahmel
I cry out in despair
fearing that the camel
may wander through muddy plains

Translated by Marjan Vahdat