Rhythms
The August issue of SALT will immerse you in the rituals, rhythms and contradictions that shape contemporary Armenian life. From the evolving traditions of wedding rituals to the raw voices of Yerevan’s underground music scene, this month is about encounters, where heritage meets reinvention, where spectacle (hello, J.Lo) collides with satire, and where diaspora-Armenia relations unfold in all their messy, modern “situationships.” August is a month of intensity, and this issue embraces it with stories that are layered, unexpected, magnetic.
Cover photo by Lilith Margaryan, featuring Futurili.
Annie, desperate to preserve her mother’s belongings, cannot let go of anything. Her story becomes a metaphor for Armenia itself, a society weighed down by generational trauma, deprivation, overconsumption and the memories of loss that keep us from “letting go.”
From psychedelic rock to post-punk and beyond, Armenia’s underground musicians are reshaping soundscapes with raw honesty, intimate stories and bold experimentation. In conversation with four artists, Lilith Margaryan reveals the passions and struggles driving their creativity.
From ancient rituals of red and green wedding attire to modern white gowns and tiered cakes, Armenian weddings have continually transformed. Maria Tumanyan explores how age-old symbols, myths and customs have evolved, blending tradition with contemporary influences.
When Jennifer Lopez arrived in Yerevan, she brought music and glamor and lots of conversation. From admiration to envy, the J.Lo effect revealed our society’s contrasts, ignited debates about culture and trust, and hinted at Armenia’s potential as a stage for the world.
Armenia and its Diaspora share a bond of love, pride and pain—full of longing, misunderstandings and unspoken truths. Tatev Hovhannisyan explores their complicated “situationship” where memory and survival meet politics, and where distance both deepens and strains connection.
EVN Report’s mission is to empower Armenia, inspire the diaspora and inform the world through sound, credible and fact-based reporting and commentary. Our goal is to increase public trust in the media. EVN Report is the media arm of EVN News Foundation registered in the Republic of Armenia in 2017.
