25Band: Music, Love, and Forgiveness

The group 25Band, formed by the young and creative couple Idel and Tamina (Adel and Tahmineh), has achieved significant success in recent years. Their works have frequently been among the top songs on Radio Farda, including in 2015, which led to a New Year's interview with the two members of the group. Idel: I am Idel. I greet you, your good program, and all your listeners. Happy New Year. Tamina: I also greet you. Happy New Year in advance. I hope you have the best year ahead. Interestingly, before our interview began, we were thinking that this year is apparently the year of the monkey, which has two meanings: it signifies good fortune (derived from the word 'mayman'), and it is also the name of an animal. I believe we have a very good year ahead. Idel: Yes, the year of the monkey! Tamina: The monkey brings laughter and is also auspicious. I hope this year we hear only about peace, reconciliation, celebration, joy, and positive things. When talking about the New Year and our wishes for it, that is fine; but we should also take a look at the past year, 1394. In this year, you released a fruitful album titled 'Belief'. Even one of the songs you released last year, 'On the Path of Love', was among the top songs on Radio Farda. The title of this song certainly piques curiosity, prompting the question that at least in my mind and certainly in the minds of some listeners, are you on the path of love? Are you still an artistic couple or are you a couple in another sense as well? Please enlighten us. Idel: We are a couple in another sense. Fortunately, we are both an artistic couple and we got married a few months after we started collaborating, and now it has been over five years. I can say that one of the biggest factors that has accelerated our progress is this matter, and it has been very good for our work. I am really surprised. In fact, it is quite the opposite. When a couple who are spouses collaborate, it creates a basis for more arguments and disagreements. It is very good that you can collaborate artistically in peace and harmony. What is the secret to your success? Tamina: It is truly amazing. Because we both have the same goal. This makes us both walk the same path, and wherever one person has shortcomings, or one person has a better idea... or for example, we spend time on it and discuss together. The fact that our opinions differ greatly helps in progress; but in the end, the decision that is best and the one we reach together is what we implement; but the fact that love exists makes everything easier and better. It is evident from our work. I have heard many times that they do not get tired of being so good together! Everyone who sees us asks this. We laugh too. Idel: They say there is a fight, a war, a discussion... Tamina: We really have not fought. I say you should set aside music and become family counselors (laughs). Idel: In fact, I believe... if you pay attention to our works, and all our fans say this, we are happy that it is so prominent and we continue. We try to ensure our works have a message. That is, like 'On the Path of Love', we try to make sure that small children understand our language. Teenagers understand. We try to have an impact on parents with this relationship, these words, and this feeling. In my opinion, this is a duty alongside our love for music; but when it can be done this way, it also gives us a good sense of peace. One issue that is implicit in what we have said and I think can be pointed out more clearly is the positive language that you often have in your songs. It is very rare or does not happen that you have the specific melancholic atmosphere of Iranian songs. Tamina: The only thing we have done is try to be ourselves. The feedback I hear from friends, acquaintances, and those who follow and support us is that we have tried to be ourselves. In the beginning, it was like this... as soon as we would come to say something, suddenly before anyone spoke, we would start talking about something that was on our minds and then we would say we are one person. I was thinking, and Idel would start talking about it. One soul in two bodies. Tamina: If it can be said! At least for us, it was very interesting. We brought this into our poetry and how we presented ourselves. We are really one person, and you can see it in the lyrics. We are one person. When there is no lying, only honesty, and when there is peace in life, this brings calm, blessings, and success. But you are not on the path of love... you have apparently reached your destination. Tamina: The path of love truly has no end. We are enjoying ourselves. People, learn from us! Idel: Many people ask us. I personally believe that forgiveness is the greatest solution and the key to all problems and even at a higher level, the solution to the problems of wars. That is, if there is a little forgiveness, many of the big disputes will not even reach the fifth or tenth second. Two people who have lived in two different families and have different upbringings must be very careful that two different people are seeing each other and not get upset and have forgiveness; otherwise, if this is not the case and these differences exist, there is no beauty in that relationship either. Regardless of everything, the talk of love is sweeter. I want to ask you something. What does Nowruz mean to you in your life? Tamina: Firstly, it has nostalgia, especially the atmosphere of Iran, the gifts and visits, seeing relatives, receiving gifts, eating a lot of delicious things, the new and crisp money, and that nostalgia is always there. When I was a child, I loved to wear my mother's shoes and it made a sound. When it was Nowruz, I was allowed to wear my mother's shoes. Nowruz has nostalgia. It has a fresh atmosphere. I really like it. Idel: Of course, Saadi says that looking at your face is like every morning of Nowruz... Tamina: When you are in love, it is always Nowruz... but there are some differences now... we are vegan. That is, we do not eat any animal products. No chicken, eggs, or meat. That is, we do not eat any animal products at all. Idel: In the New Year, at the beginning of the year, we also ask all listeners to add a vegetarian diet to their meal plan for a few days. Tamina: In recent years, we have removed the goldfish from the Haft-Seen table. Especially the goldfish needs a large place; otherwise, the rest of it is all the same as it used to be. It is wonderful. It is excellent. At first, when one hears 25Band, they say, oh, how foreign! But there is a root to this name of your group that is not foreign at all. Can you explain it to the listeners? Idel: 2, which is the number 2, and 5 looks like S. The number Two with that S becomes TowS (Tavs), which is the old name of Mashhad. We both come from Mashhad and have Mashhadi roots, and since we got to know each other from there and founded this group together... but because we wanted it to be more international and have a special aspect that is hidden and have a philosophy behind it, we chose the number 25. Dear listeners, you saw that this name is completely Iranian. It is Tavs Band, the Tavs group! Idel: It is the city of the Shahnameh after all. It cannot be more Iranian than this! It is a very interesting innovation. I thank you both for dedicating these minutes to the listeners of Radio Farda despite your busy schedule and limited time, and I wish you happy times. I hope we can talk again and wish you success in your future programs. Idel: Thank you. We are also very happy to have spoken with you and once again wish a Happy New Year to dear listeners. Tamina: I also congratulate and hope we have the best year this year and from this year onwards I wish for success, peace, and positive and good things.