Young Ali: those were the days (Original Motion Picture Score)
the original motion picture soundtrack to Amir Motlagh's feature film "Young Ali: those were the days out now on the ANIMALSDOWORK Bandcamp page. additional platforms follow in the coming weeks.
this was recorded in three layers of real-time single takes, performed to the scenes in the film that required music. the piece runs as a single 27:10 min track.
credits
released August 24, 2026
arranged & composed by Amir Motlagh
released by ANIMALS
© 2026 ANIMALS / ANIMALS Publishing Worldwide - BMI
ghosts44xo
ghosts44xo out now:
ghosts44xo cover art
a composition about a particular feeling...
credits
released August 14, 2026
written, produced & mixed by amir motlagh
instrumentation, programming, & vocals by amir motlagh
performed as mirs
mastered inhouse
art direction by amir motlagh
℗ ANIMALS Publishing Worldwide
© 2026 ANIMALS / Amir Motlagh
iwanttoknow
a composition about slippery love
a visual directed by am
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credits
released March 24, 2026
written, produced & mixed by amir motlagh
instrumentation, programming, & vocals by amir motlagh
performed as mirs
mastered inhouse
art direction by amir motlagh
℗ ANIMALS Publishing Worldwide
© 2026 ANIMALS / Amir Motlagh
iwanttoknow
iwanttoknow
mirs - iwanttoknow
live on bc
_____
credits:
releases March 24, 2026
written, produced & mixed by amir motlagh
instrumentation, programming, & vocals by amir motlagh
performed as mirs
mastered inhouse
art direction by amir motlagh
dedicated to sl
℗ ANIMALS Publishing Worldwide
© 2026 ANIMALS / Amir Motlagh
u said love was free
this year, i made a promise to deliver from heart. those pure murmurings from the unknown. this is just one of them.
my first painting series in a long while: "u said love was free." it's still becoming. at minimum 12 pieces, four artist proofs, where we are now.
for me, at this stage, this is a rebellion. from judgement, from cultural homogeny, anything not me, and above all, a reclaiming of human pinpoint attention.
a self expansion of form. everything, a vein into the larger system. all the attention, into all forms that speak, into the physical.
from afar
when i think of iran, there comes back to me a void.
a separation.
a place of endless beauty, yet no hope.
so much of it senseless.
one mistake after another
that has burned the lives of millions
for over four decades. but the land had not had relief,
even before that.
i am not there.
i am only there in memory —
once as a child, once as a teenager,
and then only through the memories of others.
now my connection is through the intricate cuisine.
i lost a friend there.
i don't know where she is now.
i have family there. worry persists.
i don't claim any solution without tradeoff.
it's not my place.
i don't blame others for their passions.
any solution leaves scars.
but i know it cannot stay like this.
a population that loses all hope is not sustained.
so i dream of better days,
from comfort,
ten thousand miles away.
Discussion on "Young Ali" on "Kicking the Seat" with Film Critic Ian Simmons
i recently did a virtual sit down with chicago film critic association member ian simmons on his video podcast, kicking the seat.
this episode runs a little under 1hr. i was dealing with a cold so enjoy the extra seasoning on my voice
upcoming Young Ali discussion on Kicking the Seat...
while dealing with a pesky cold, i had the pleasure of sitting down (virtually) with chicago film critic ian simmons to discuss young ali: those were the days on his kicking the seat podcast. episode comes out friday the 21st.
you can see why he loved the film for yourself on the new platform relay
and then come back to tune in on some of the granular details
MAN, Three Worlds, Whale and Rainbow Season now available to stream worldwide on Relay along with Young Ali
You can watch my 2018 feature releases, MAN and Three Worlds on the emerging streaming platform Relay. This is our preferred platform as of today.
Relay also includes my latest work Young Ali: those were the days (2024), and the music film Rainbow Season (2019) and my 2010 feature film, Whale.
They are offering a one week free trial as of now. Relay also shows other places you may find the work if you prefer, though its not conclusive on all the titles listed.
