Ethnomusicolgy graduate Aria Alagha is the Creative Director of Arke Digital – a London-based digital marketing agency that boasts an impressive list of recording artists as clients, including Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding. You’ll find him across his social media channels under the moniker @baradar85 – Baradar means ‘brother’ in Farsi. Aria clearly values his heritage. His recent project – It came from Swagistan – was a radio show that celebrated cultural diversity in diaspora communities.
SOAS Blogs caught up with Aria to talk about his success, the music he loves and how the internet changed everything for the music business.
Aria, as the Creative Director of Arke Digital you’ve had the chance to work with some incredible artists – such as M.I.A, Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa – what can you tell us about your collaborations with them?

As a SOASian, I imagine you like to look at the world in a different way to a lot of people. Does Arke Digital have an ethos that makes it unique?
You studied Ethnomusicology at SOAS. What role has your studies played in your journey?

What advice do you have to anyone wanting to breakout into the world of social media branding?
Is there a piece of work you’re most proud to have been a part of?
Last year (courtesy of @ReprezentRadio) I gave you 6 episodes of It Came From #Swagistan, A show celebrating cultural diversity in diaspora communities. https://t.co/48G5BO5tKU
Thank you to guests @mypandashallfly @TALAOFFICIAL @leokalyan @MNEK @xomusic_uk @thenitinsawhney
— Aria Reza 🇮🇷 دودول طلا (@baradar85) May 21, 2018
What were the last 3 live music events you went to?
Where can SOASians follow you?
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