Pallett Band was formed in 2009, emerging from the collaborative efforts of its founding members who had previously worked on various separate projects. Initially, the lineup included Omid Nemati (vocals), Dâriush Âzar (double bass), and Hessam Mohammadianpour (percussion). They soon welcomed Rouzbeh Esfandârmaz (clarinet) and Mahyar Tahmasebi (cello), both with extensive accompaniment experience, to complete the ensemble known as Pallett. This longstanding friendship and their diverse musical backgrounds culminated in a charity project at the Mahak Charity Institution in 2009, alongside guitarist Kaveh Sâlehi, where they performed in support of cancer patients. The Mahak concert inspired Pallett to compose and perform several new pieces in a short timeframe, leading the band to pursue serious composition and the release of an album.
In July 2012, Pallett held its inaugural concert in a small hall at Mohsen Gallery, which garnered significant attention. This success enabled the band to collaborate two weeks later with Dutch drummer and composer Robbert van Holzen, performing a mix of previously played pieces and new compositions by van Holzen.
As they worked on their first album in September 2012, Pallett also composed music for the theater production “The Unfinished Story of a Suspended Season” by Hooman Seyedi, further increasing their visibility within the Iranian art community. In November 2012, the band performed its first official concert at Azadi Tower, establishing a reputation for avant-garde and innovative music even prior to releasing their debut album. This recognition led to a project for the soundtrack of Shahram Makri’s award-winning film “Fish and Cat.”
Pallett released its first album, “Mr. Violet,” on January 30, 2013, which achieved record-breaking CD sales in Iran. The album's success resulted in the band performing 12 sold-out concerts at Azadi Tower in August 2013. Shortly thereafter, they commenced a tour across Iran, performing in cities such as Zanjan, Gorgan, Shiraz, and Sanandaj, before heading to Europe for concerts in Cologne, Milan, Paris, Amsterdam, Gutenberg, and Stockholm, featuring music from the “Mr. Violet” album. They also participated in the “New Sounds from Iran” music festival in Cologne.
Upon returning from their European tour, Pallett appeared in a promotional teaser for the film "School of Mice," directed by Marziyeh Boroumand, sharing in the film's significant success. The band also featured on IRIB Channel 7, where they conducted a pantomime presentation of one of their pieces in a notable protest against the censorship of musical instruments that had occurred during a previous television performance, which drew considerable attention both domestically and internationally.
In July 2014, Pallett traveled to Brazil for the World Cup, where they filmed a documentary and performed live concerts in cities including Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and Salvador. After their return from Brazil, they toured Germany, performing at the Heimspiel Knyphausen Festival in Mainz in collaboration with German singer and composer Gisbert Zu Knyphausen.
In August 2014, Pallett returned home to perform pieces from “Mr. Violet” at Masoudiyeh Mansion during the House of Music Festival, attended by 1,700 music enthusiasts, alongside many renowned music figures. The band continued its live performances in Bandar Abbas and Rasht, receiving a warm welcome from audiences.
In October 2014, Pallett was appointed as the permanent ambassador for the UN World Food Program (WFP) in Iran. Recently, the band participated in the “Good News From Iran” festival in Munich, Germany, collaborating with TARAB Band.
