Rockville-Raised O.A.R. Has An Extended Family

By Aaron Carter

When the uber-successful band O.A.R. rolls into Merriweather Post Pavilion today, they will be returning to the region where they forged their now nationally-famous sound.

O.A.R.—which stands for Of a Revolution—originated in Rockville with the founding members attending . Those school ties continue to shape the band today, including in its connection to a family of Wootton alumni making their own mark on the world.

Rod Baharloo, brother-in-law of O.A.R. frontman Marc Roberge, just completed his initial foray into documentary filmmaking. Rod's sister Nasim, is married to Roberge. Rod and Nasim's brother Ryan has a band of his own—called Diji Parq—and contributed his own musical talent to the O.A.R.'s latest album. Their father, Ahmad Reza Baharloo, is a well-respected international journalist most well known for his role with Voice of America.

“Film is my father’s passion,” Rod said in a telephone interview. Father and son recently collaborated on "Devolution," a documentary about the land of their ancestors, Iran.

The film attempts to reveal the influences that shaped present-day Iran. A daunting task to be sure, Rod said he spent more than 4,000 hours editing the film. It is scheduled for release in late August.

“Once you look back, it feels great to have created something of your own,” Rod said.

Though not a member of the band, Ryan Baharloo has had a hand in creating music with O.A.R. He has a writing credit on the band’s new single “Heaven.”

When Ryan was a student at Wootton he was always different when it came to music, brother Rod said.

“He becomes the music he is making,” Rod said. “He has a serious gift.”

The creativity that the Roberge and Baharloo families possess inspires each to achieve new heights, Rod said.

“We motivate each other,” he said. “It’s not about competition, it’s about motivation.”

Nasim and Marc Roberge have an infant son, Hudson Roberge, and his uncle can already tell music is in his blood.

“He already has an ear for music,” Rod said. “He already knows how to use an IPod.”

“Mark’s talent has definitely passed on to him.”