Iranian born, Persian Kamancheh and Qeychak player, singer, songwriter Gelareh Pour, studied her BA at the Art University of Tehran's conservatorium and her Masters of Ethnomusicology at The University of Melbourne. She has completed her unique academic research on 'The Lives of Iranian Women Singers in Diaspora' at MCM in which she introduces the professional aspects of seven selected Iranian female singers' lives before and after migration.

After living in Melbourne for 9 years, she now is calling Ballarat (VIC) home. Gelareh has performed in Iran, Tajikistan, through-out Europe and Australia. Since arriving in Australia she has collaborated with some of the country’s most innovative musicians and organisations such as Australian Art Orchestra, Punctum, Rubiks Collective, Cultural Infusion, ANU, University of Melbourne, Boîte, Multicultural Arts Victoria and more. Her flexibility and interest in different cultures and genres sees her working across a variety of music scenes, including, improvised, experimental, cross-cultural, classical, electronic, new music and many more. 

Gelareh released her debut album 'Tanin-e Melbourne' in 2013 through Bleeemo Music to wide acclaim. An eclectic mixture of tones and melodies that focus on new connections found in Australia. Her second full length release, Feb 2015, features Mick Trembath (Guitar) in an intimate duo setting recorded live at Ballarat's B1 Gallery.

Gelareh formed JIVIR in collaboration with Adam Simmons (Shakuhachi) and Brian O'Dwyer (Drum-Kit), Feb 2015, and released their single track 'Red Silk'. 

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Her third full-length album, MNMM, released on Nov 2018, through Art As Catharsis records, features Brian O'Dwyer (Drum-Kit) and Gerard Mason (Guitar), blending post-rock, Persian and improvised music. 

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Gelareh has collaborated on several other Melbourne based releases including doom metal act SUBTERRANEAN DISPOSITION's second album 'Contagiuum and the landscapes of failure', and yacht rockers MAPS OF TASMANIA's debut self-titled album.  

 

Gelareh Pour's GARDEN was formed in June 2016 and feature's Brian O'Dwyer (Drum-Kit) and Mike Gallichio (Guitar). Their debut album launched in July 2019 supported by an Australian national tour that included dates at Melbourne's Recital Centre, Nexus Arts in Adelaide, and MONA in Hobart. Gelareh Pour's Garden appeared at Womadelaide 2020 to promote a live video/E.P. in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Kelly Dowall, recorded at Melbourne's Bakehouse Studios. 

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In 2017, Gelareh Pour and Brian O'Dwyer formed ZÖJ, meaning couple in Farsi, a transparent improvised experimental duet deeply affected by audience and space. The duet has performed in various venues through-out Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania, including MONA FOMA 2020 & 2022, and Womadelaide 2022.

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Gelareh continues to work with a variety of musicians across many genres, with a focus on new Australian music. 

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Gelareh has been a finalist nominee for the following awards:

Music Victoria Awards  
2020 - Gelareh Pour’s Garden
(Industry voted Award for Best Inter-Cultural Act)
2021 - Gelareh Pour's Garden's
(Industry voted Award for Best Inter-Cultural Act)

 

Art Music Awards - APRA AMCOS & Australian Music Centre
2020 - Gelareh Pour for Garden Quartet
(Excellence in experimental music)
2022 - Zöj

(Performance of the year - jazz/improvised music)