“A groundbreaking first-of-its-kind dialogue between Persian santur, classical harp, and Indian tabla.”
In the midst of three distinct and daring careers, Shawn Mativetsky, Amir Amiri, and Sarah Pagé have come together, forging a remarkable triad in which multiple musical traditions are recontextualized. Employing rhythmically imaginative tabla, a custom-built santur and processed concert harp, the group makes stirring music for emergent worlds.
Based in Montreal, Mativetsky, Amiri & Pagé formed in 2019 through mutual connections and a shared desire to push their respective practices further. At the center of this creative collaboration is an intention to bring musical traditions into a contemporary context; seeking new sounds through a balance of study and experimentation. The resulting music is both intense and welcoming, appealing equally to fans of both traditional and non-traditional approaches. This equilibrium is achieved through rigorous play and serious dedication. Despite being technically sophisticated, all of the music’s intricate mechanisms remain tucked inside. The sound is lush, organic and uncanny. What’s immediately evident when listening to the trio is the rich sense of cohesion; complex melodies referencing Persian music and chamber jazz combine seamlessly with inventive Hindustani rhythms. The compositions morph and sway as if to their own internal logic, each player taking turns shepherding the music.
The group’s forthcoming debut album, Metamorphose, is a striking collection of five pieces composed collectively. The title refers to the players' shared understanding of music as being in a state of constant change. In live performance, this sense of flow and connection is visceral: strings hammered and plucked, skins struck and thrumming, three incredible musicians communing around an ever-evolving sound.
Metamorphose, out now on LP, CD, and digital on Fifth House Records!
Bios
Amir Amiri was born in Tehran, Iran where much of his youth was spent studying the santur, a 72-string hammered dulcimer that lies at the heart of Persian classical music. Classically trained, Amiri has always sought to explore the limits of his music, stretching beyond the constraints of classical thought. Amiri has worked extensively as a performer, composer, musical director and consultant for numerous Canadian dance and theatre companies, orchestras, concert series, and has considerable experience in film and television. While continuously exploring the limits of his music, Amir keeps coming back to the conclusion that there are none.
To encapsulate the career of Montreal-based harpist Sarah Pagé, one would have to draw long, constellation-like shapes across genres, borders and histories. While perhaps best known as a founding and longtime member of roots rockers The Barr Brothers, a brief consideration of her resume reveals the fact that she’s equally at home within traditions as without them. Her first solo LP, Dose Curves, affirms this versatility and reveals Pagé as one of Canada’s most accomplished experimentalists.
Dynamic performer Shawn Mativetsky is considered one of Canada's leading ambassadors of the tabla, pushing the boundaries of tradition. Acclaimed as an exceptional soloist and a leading disciple of the renowned Pandit Sharda Sahai, Shawn Mativetsky is highly sought after as both performer and educator, and has performed at venues around the world. Based in Montreal, Shawn teaches tabla and percussion at McGill University. His solo album, Rivers, is rooted in the rich traditions of the Benares style of tabla playing, and the recent self-titled debut album of his new project, Temporal Waves, features the tabla, bathed in the neon glow of analog synthesizers.
Reviews
“This is one of the lushest, loveliest records you’ll hear this year. Let it change you.” - Nik Havert, 7th Level Music (Mar 20, 2026)
“Fascinating, utterly unique, and timeless. Magnificently beautiful.” - Moors Magazine (March, 2026) {Translated from the original Dutch}
“One of the most exciting collaborations to cross my desk… Their new album, Metamorphose, opens up an entirely new world of sound. 10/10” - Alison Young, The Harp Column, May 2026
“Metamorphose supplies mystery, history and mastery. 8/10” - Liam Izod, Songlines, May 2026
“Mativetsky, Amiri and Pagé are using ancient paths to reach new territory.” - Reed Jackson, Spectrum Culture, April 2026
“Les rythmes allants de Mativetsky permettent aux fines lignes des instruments à cordes de prendre leur envol. On est tout de suite séduits.” - Frédéric Cardin, PanM 360
“Une musique qui ne cherche pas à concilier des héritages pour les rendre compatibles, mais à les placer dans un état de friction fertile, de devenir partagé. C’est un disque de circulation, de passage, de réinvention. Un disque qui ne demande pas seulement à être écouté, mais à être habité.” - Solénopole, Mars 2026
“One of the most unique records released so far this year within the World Music community… this album proves to be among the best of this year’s new World Music offerings if not the best so far.” - Phil’s Picks, April 28, 2026
“You need to hear this record. It is a stunning collection of colours and textures that will leave you entranced from start to finish.” - David Reed, The Belleville Intelligencer, April 15, 2026
“This album is a perfect example of finding beauty in an ever-changing landscape. Their sound is lush, peaceful, uniquely organic and inspired.” - Dee Dee McNeil, Making a Scene, April 28, 2026
“This is an album that breaks the mold, thanks to the idea of the three musicians who have combined their skills to imagine a different approach to the world of ambient, avoiding exoticism, hyper-technical twists and self-referentiality and valourizing creativity, emotion, and silence.” - Gianluca Diana, Il Manifesto, March 14, 2026 {Translated from the original Italian}
“Metamorphose defines a free, welcoming, and warm world of gentle melancholy and daring exploration, centered on harmony and beauty.” - Frank P. Eckert, Motherboard, March 2026 {Translated from the original German}
Contact
Booking
Shawn Mativetsky
map@tablamontreal.com
Label
Fifth House Music c/o Amir Amiri
fifthhouserecord@gmail.com
Press
Riparian Media c/o Nick Storring
riparianmedia@gmail.com
