Niyaz, an Iranian Canadian musical trio, was formed in 2004 by Carmen Rizzo, Azam Ali, and Loga Ramin Torkian. The group's music blends Sufi mysticism with trance electronica, incorporating Persian, Indian, and Mediterranean folk sounds alongside Western electronic instrumentation. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2005, which featured 13th-century Sufi and Urdu poetry combined with hypnotic beats. The duo followed up with Nine Heavens in 2008, which included both electronic and acoustic renditions of its tracks. In 2012, they released Sumud, accompanied by an acoustic EP the following year. Their album, The Fourth Light, was released in 2015. Carmen Rizzo announced his retirement from Niyaz in 2013.