Divahn, the band in question, began its life in Austin, Texas, early in the new millennium. After releasing an excellent self-titled debut album in 2002, the group dissolved, but Dardashti looked back on the group fondly and, when she was thinking about future projects, she always saw Divahn as the band that would execute them, even if all its members were replaced. And, indeed, that was what happened.

“What really pushed us to record an album was the 2016 election,” Dardashti said. The timing, she explained, was fortuitous: “Right before we knew the band’s personnel wasn’t going to change any more, and this was a really solid group. After the election we felt that what the world needed was an all-Jewish-female-Middle Eastern band that spoke to what unites us and that celebrates those values.”

A quintet with an impressive roster of guest artists, the current version of Divahn is releasing its first album in almost 20 years on March 7, with a live gig at Joe’s Pub.