Ariana Delawari’s Afghanistan Dream

A political expat teams with David Lynch to create an ethereal gem

Comments (0) By Daiana Feuer Wednesday, Dec 16 2009

Paul Beahan, a longtime Delawari supporter, stepped in to release the vinyl version on his experimental, cool Manimal imprint. “She gave me a rough copy last year, and I was driving a rental car and I had her CD playing nonstop,” says Beahan. “A few moments made me tear up with happiness. Not many songwriters can do that to me. With raw intensity she puts her love of what she does into the unsuspecting and sometimes cruel world.”

Delawari returns the compliment: “Paul inspires people to be authentic and he brings people together. It was important to put it out with him. I think we’re going to do the first 100 in splatter-paint colors of the Afghan flag.” She laughs but admits she’d like to focus on a happier topic for her next project. “I’ve changed a lot since I started recording these songs. A lot of this stuff has kind of broken me down. I want the next album to be all about love, all about what I want to see in the world. Not what I have seen. I need to think about fun.”