ZÖJ - May the Devil’s Ear Be Deaf

A powerful cross-cultural journey through deep listening, improvisation, and Persian poetry.

ZÖJ returns with their captivating fusion of neo-classical Persian music and experimental rhythms.

Launching their third album, May The Devil's Ear Be Deaf, recorded live at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada, ZÖJ invite listeners into an intimate and powerful evening.

Drawing inspiration from a Persian saying often spoken when something beautiful is expressed aloud, the album title is used to ward off envy or misfortune, acknowledging that beauty and hope can also carry risk.

‘This album carries the breath of its making, no retakes, no disguises. Each sound was played only once, then left to live or die. To make something so fragile is a way of trusting life itself.’ – Gelareh Pour

Praise for ZÖJ

‘May this music offer a drop of solace, a gesture of care, and a call to stay human.’ – African Paper

‘I return to this album when I want to feel again that music can be a mirror of the soul.’ – Anxious Musick Magazine

‘One kneels before such beauty.’ – Inactuelles, musiques singulières

‘Exhilarating and heart-stoppingly beautiful.’ – The Music Show, ABC Radio National

Tickets

Standard $50 ($40 Concession)

Please note, seating in the Primrose Potter Salon is General Admission.

A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.

About the Artists

ZÖJ is an experimental cross-cultural music duo from Australia, consisting of Gelareh Pour on Kamancheh, voice, and Qeychak, and Brian O’Dwyer on drumkit and percussion.

With a commitment to authentic intercultural expression, ZÖJ blends traditional elements from their respective backgrounds with contemporary experimental influences. Central to ZÖJ’s practice is a deep engagement with Persian poetry, which informs Gelareh’s vocal expression and the duo’s compositional language. Gelareh’s virtuosic string and vocal performances intertwine seamlessly with Brian’s dynamic drumming, resulting in a captivating and accessible sound.

Their innovative approach to contemporary art music has garnered acclaim, with Gelareh and Brian receiving the award for Excellence in Experimental Practice at the Art Music Awards, APRA AMCOS 2024. In 2022, ZÖJ was recognised for Performance of the Year in the jazz/improvised music category, and in 2025 received the Zulya Kamalova Award for Best Song in a Non-English Language at the Australian Folk Music Awards.

Their debut full-length album FIL O FENJOON, released to critical acclaim in November 2023, sold out all dates of the accompanying tour.

Their sophomore album, Give Water To Birds (released June 2025 via Bleeemo Music and Parenthesis Records), featured Brett Langsford on guitar and continued to expand the ZÖJ sound.

Now, their third full-length album promises to shift direction once again and provide listeners with another truly unique ZÖJ experience.