Representing a tiny nation with a huge sound, Azadoota infuses Assyrian party music with Latin, African and Eastern European flavours.

Azadoota is the creation of Assyrian singer/songwriter Robin Zirwanda. Based in Sydney Australia, Azadoota has been performing on the East Coast pub and festival circuit for the last 8 years. With band members from Iraq, Latin America, Asia and Europe, Azadoota's cross-cultural musical style has seen them perform in a broad range of venues, winning fans at local pubs, music festivals and cultural events.

"Azadoota in Assyrian means Freedom," says Robin, "and our band stands for freedom from cultural and ethnic prejudice. We hope that our music will transcend cultural barriers and encourage our audience to embrace diversity."

Robin was born in Baghdad, Iraq, where his father was a popular guitarist and singer. Growing up in a house full of music, Robin was destined to be a musician, but despite his father’s best efforts to teach him guitar, Robin’s passion was the drums.

At age 16 Robin migrated to Australia, where he started his musical career as a percussionist, working with local acts Floyd Vincent & the Childbrides and Latin Fire. One of the biggest highlights for Robin during that time was playing percussion for “American Pie” legend Don McLean, on his Australian tour in 1986.

Robin describes how during that tour, while enjoying lobster and caviar backstage, he asked Don McLean what it took to achieve such a high level of success in the music industry. Don's answer? “You have to gamble on yourself, Robin”.

With those words echoing in his head, Robin started writing songs in his native language, Assyrian, and eventually Azadoota was born. Robin says, “It's a credit to the Australian people that they have not only welcomed us here as migrants, but they have embraced our music, allowing us to share a piece of our culture with them”.