Meet Shabnam J. Kermani | Composer for Media and Concert – Audiovisual & Multimedia Artist – Music Producer – Audio Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shabnam J. Kermani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shabnam, why did you pursue a creative career?
My life was surrounded by art, in all of its forms, and creativity from even before I was born! My mother always recounts that when pregnant with me and my sister, she played classical piano records on her belly.
While my first contact with art was my first painting and piano lessons, my gateway to falling in love with the arts and the colorful world they present was my family. My parents are not professional artists, but they have always been dedicated admirers of the arts. They raised my sister and me in an environment full of art and love for art. In our house in Tehran, Iran, art, both national and international, was everywhere. Our displays were full of wooden statuettes that my father bought and collected, while small and large puzzles of famous classical paintings by artists like Raphael and Da Vinci decorated our walls. My sister and I imitated the tap dancing and ballet routines of Michael Flatley and Gillian Murphy by watching the Riverdance and Swan Lake videos that were bought in our travels or sent to us by relatives, and my father and I both shared the love for mythology and archaeology. Every night, as a family, we watched both Iranian and American films and shows, and during the weekends, we enjoyed going to concerts, museums, or the theater.
More important and influential than all was music. As we were growing up, my parents played songs from the CDs that they had purchased over the years when they wanted to wake us up. Throughout my childhood and teen years, my alarms ranged from songs by artists like John Lennon, Bonnie Tyler, Enya, Yanni, Europe, Amy Winehouse, and Demis Roussos to groups like Era, Enigma, and Gregorian. When I returned home from school, Chopin or Grieg would play; when doing homework, it was time for Hans Zimmer, Rachel Portman, or Dario Marianelli. At dinner time, Iranian traditional musicians like Homayoun Shajarian, or pop singers from before and after the 1979 Revolution would fill the house with their voices. I dare say that there were seldom days when no music was heard either from our stereos or the piano. All of these became reasons for my love for the arts, and specifically, for music. To our family, art was not just an escape, but a companion and a way to connect with each other. Ultimately, it was my family that motivated me to pursue this path. If it were not for my parents’ encouragement for daily practice, or even the friendly competition between the progress my sister and I made in playing the piano, I would have not found this fantastic way of living through the arts.
The reason why I pursued a career focused on creating, however, was the strong passion I felt for telling stories. I previously viewed the act of composing music as unapproachable and reserved for a specific population, but I realized that it was actually an art for everyone who wanted to create. I wanted to create, and I had a story to tell. My biggest influence in realizing this, and starting my first composition was the composer Ramin Djawadi. I fell in love with the music of Game of Thrones while I was still living in Iran, and I remember listening to the tracks day and night, burning CD’s with my favorite tracks, and deciphering the lyrics to “Mhysa” (or at least trying!) and singing along. Ramin Djawadi inspired me immensely, and his work and his music have guided my path in life and my career. I began writing because of his music, I applied to the Berklee College of Music because he attended there and I wanted to receive the same training and be in the same environment that he was in. And so, I always mention him as my biggest inspiration and motivation. Listening to his music brought out the storyteller that existed within me, and I will be forever grateful for that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am currently working professionally as a composer, producer, multimedia/audiovisual artist, and educator. But first and foremost, in all of these roles, I am a storyteller. My guide and north star has always been the story. I have always been able to feel emotions strongly, and sometimes even those that are not mine. I can imagine myself in the story, and I ask myself “how would I feel in this situation?”, “how does that feeling sound to me?”, and “what would I hear or would like to hear if I was feeling this way?” and that is how I approach writing music, by always having a story or writing for a story. I care about what stories sound like, feel like, and what words and poetries bring them to life. And what I thinks is really beautiful, is that all of us creators, even though we might write and create for other narratives, we always put a little of ourselves and our stories in our work too. For me, this means that I always put a little bit of my experience of living in my home country of Iran, its music, traditions, and people into my music. I try to bring in some notes of my studies in archaeology and mythology, and some hints of my immigration experience into my music as well. These might not be obviously quoted or mentioned, but I think the feelings are what always show themselves in music.
Throughout my career, I have composed original scores for numerous short films and animations in various styles of music and instrumental arrangements, as well as acting as the producer, engineer, or assistant engineer for several artists, which has given me a rich knowledge of working with musicians with different musical backgrounds, and leading rehearsals and recording sessions. I have been playing and studying the piano for 18 years, and composing for 7 years for solo instruments, ensembles, orchestras, dance performances, and of course, films and media. Some of the films I have composed music for include “The Taste of Pomegranate” by Dir. Sean Ahmadzadeh, animations “Watched” and “Letter Flow” by Dir. Iris Kouwenberg, and “Sweet & Sour” by Dir. Nandita Goel. I was commissioned this year (2024) to compose an orchestral piece for the Joven Orquesta sierra de Madrid in honor of the Spanish heroine, Manuela Malasaña, and the music was premiered by the orchestra in Spain in May of 2024.
My path has definitely had its challenges, and it has not been easy. My immigration to the United States was a huge pivotal point in my life. In 2014, after 11 years of waiting for the review and approval of our Green Card application, my family and I immigrated to the United States from Tehran, Iran. This was, perhaps, the hardest decision that we made as a family; because even though this new life in the United States would present us with more opportunities than in Iran, immigrating meant leaving behind the successful lives that we had built in our home country. For me, then 15 years old, the immigration process was filled with feelings of duality and uncertainty. I did not want to ignore this chance of exploring and broadening my world. However, I felt unsure about going to a world where everything, including my family and myself, fit under one word: alien. At first, my perspective towards this move was mainly influenced and led by fear; fear of the people, of the unfamiliar, and of not knowing how to live here. The definition of “home” became blurred, and I was lost. However, after a few months, I chose another approach: to adapt. Having studied English since kindergarten, I was not confused about the language, but about the culture. I wanted to fit in while still retaining my background and individuality. This approach involved speaking more with others, connecting with people, and looking at my new life in the United States as an adventure rather than a struggle. Then came a time when I finally began to feel I was in the right place: when I got accepted to and attended the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA). There, I found a community of like-minded yet extremely diverse people. As a piano student, I was involved in a variety of collaborations with vocalists and instrumentalists. It was there that I became certain about the type of art I wanted to do, and why I wanted to choose it.
I was determined to pursue my further education and career in Film Scoring. At first, I chose to study Cinema, for I had extensive training in music and I intended to learn more about the cinematic aspects of Film Scoring. Therefore, I attended the San Francisco State University from 2017 to 2019, and double-majored in Cinema and Classics, while minoring in Music. During that time, I worked on short films along with my peers, studied world archaeology, and was introduced to the cellist, Tina Guo, who inspired me to take cello lessons. Towards the end of my second year, I realized that I wanted to be in a program more focused on Film Scoring and its technical aspects. So, after researching different universities that had a Film Scoring major, and following the path of my favorite composer, Ramin Djawadi, I applied and was accepted to the Berklee College of Music. There, I received extensive training in theory, and writing for concert, media, conducting and interdisciplinary works; I found amazing and supportive friends whom I enjoyed creating with; and I was given a prestigious award by the Film Scoring Department, the Ramin Djawadi Scholarship. This award has definitely been one of the proudest moments of my life, because after years and years of hard work, I received the award given by my hero and inspiration, something that younger me in Iran had dreamed of.
After graduating from Berklee, I wanted to learn more about the technology side of music production, and to shape myself better as an artist and within my field. So, I pursued a Master’s degree in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation at Berklee València in Spain. There, I got to receive a thorough education in audio engineering, recording and music production, as well as multimedia works and installations, video production, and live visual design and performance. I got the chance to experience living in Europe, travel, meet so many wonderful people and creatives with different backgrounds, and make lifelong friends and collaborators. My thesis, an interactive installation called Gisovān: Voicing a Revolution, about the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran was showcased in May 2023 in Valencia and gained a distinction award upon graduation. I also recently showcased this installation at Festival Sarao and Maison de la Conversation in Paris, France, and am currently planning on and preparing to show it for the first time in the U.S. Creating this installation was another proud moment in my life and career, because the making of it was extremely fulfilling, and the mission and message is very important to me.
Throughout my long and winding path, I have always had my art, my history, and my family to rely on. Since my move to the United States, I have tried to stay true to my background and to represent my story in my music. At the same time, I understand that my new life in the United States is shaping my personality in new ways. My ideas and compositions have always had their roots in my childhood experiences with art and in Tehran, and I have been determined to show the rich and beautiful culture of Iran throughout my professional journey. Having said that, it was in the United States that I got the chance to see live performances by musicians that I had admired for so long, and to grow as a musician. My feelings of duality are still present, I miss my country all the time, but I have learned to learn and absorb the best qualities in both of the worlds I am now a part of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am going to make this itinerary for San Francisco, since that’s where I have lived the longest in the U.S.!
I would start with a good breakfast or brunch in the morning, either at home with a great Persian tea, or at some of my favorite places like Diamond Coffee N’ Pastry, Sweet Maple, or Kantine.
San Francisco has lots of places to see and over the years my family and I have developed a sightseeing “tour” of our own! To start, day one, I would take my guest first to the Golden Gate Bridge, both because it’s one of the most iconic sights in San Francisco, and also because it is better to walk on it when you have the full energy at the beginning of the day! I know all the good picture spots there, so we would do a little photoshoot near the Bridge, enjoy the view of the city, the water, and Alcatraz. Then, I would take them to the Palace of Fine Arts, one of my favorite spots with the beautiful architecture, greenery, and swans. Then we could do more walking around the Presidio and visit Tunnel Top Park, and grab some lunch at Causwells. After that, if going by car, we can visit and drive down the famous Lombard street while blasting the “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” song in the car. Then, we have the option of visiting Japantown and trying some amazing Matcha ice cream, or walking a bit more towards Ghirardelli Square and trying a delicious sundae by the water. Depending on the time and season, we could then visit the loud and cute Sea Lions at Pier 39 and walk around the shops there.
On day 2, we could go to the Hayes Valley, see the Victorian/Edwardian-style houses called The Painted Ladies and grab a great lunch and some Baklava frozen yogurt at the Greek restaurant, Souvla. Then, we can go see the meaningful and beautiful murals at Clarion Alley, and do a little picnic at the Mission Dolores Park.
I would dedicate a whole other day to visiting the downtown area in San Francisco: visiting Yerba Buena Gardens and Union Square, walking around in Chinatown, getting some ice cream at Amorino Gelato, and then going towards the Ferry Building, while walking within the cool Salesforce Park on the way.
On the last day, we can do a little “nature” day and visit Ocean Beach and enjoy the beautiful water, and then walk within the Golden Gate Park, enjoying the magnificent greenery, the great architecture of DeYoung Museum, and see the magical Japanese Tea Garden. We will then end the walk at the famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, and then go home for, you guessed it! Some nice Persian tea to finish the day perfectly.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people I want to mention!
First and foremost, and more than anyone else, I want to dedicate this to my family: my parents, and my amazing sister, Shirin. My parents made a lot of sacrifices to give myself and my sister a wonderful life, and they instilled and inspired the love for the arts and music within me all my life, and supported my passion and vision for creative works and storytelling. My mom has been my number one supporter, friend, inspiration, and source of hope and motivation throughout all my life, and I mean it when I say that I owe it all to her. My artistic, boss-lady, and colorful sister, Shirin, my forever best friend who always keeps me going, is my muse, my idol in life and my travel guide and buddy, deserves her own shoutout article! And finally, I appreciate my dad who taught me so much about movies, history, philosophy, music, and what makes a good story. I also want to show my great love and appreciation for my grandparents, both maternal and paternal, who have given me so much love, and have had a great influence on the artistic part of my life, especially, my maternal grandmother who is a wonderful poet and painter. I want to use this shoutout to keep the memory of my paternal grandmother, Katayoun, alive. She was a teacher, a huge part of my childhood, took care of myself and my sister when our parents were at work, and had a special kindness like no other person I know. I have also written and dedicated a piece of music to her to share with others the amazing person that she was.
I want to mention all my dear friends, whom I met at different stages of life, as well as different places around the world. Each of my friends has taught me something valuable that I will cherish all my life. They have shared their love with me, given me the warmth and support of friendships filled with laughter and joy, and have been my mentors without even knowing it. I cannot express the immense love I have for them, and how much I care for them and their happiness.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to mention my gratitude for all my mentors and instructors, both in Iran and in the U.S., who have taught me so much, in both life and in art:
My amazing piano professor in Iran, Clara Bokuchava, who greatly helped me in developing and elevating my technique, and taught me the discipline and determination needed in learning and perfecting an instrument, as with many other things in life;
My piano, performance, and ensemble professors at Berklee, including Vadim Neselovskyi, Stephany Tiernan, Jennifer Elowsky-Fox, Barbara LaFitte, and Gustavo Agatiello,
My conducting professors at Berklee including Geneviève Leclair, Irina Georgieva, and George Monseur;
My wonderful film scoring and composition professors at Berklee, including Claudio Ragazzi, Alison Plante, Timothy Huling, Richard Davis, Claes Nystrom, Jeanine Cowen, Eric Reasoner, Kurt Biederwolf, Sean McMahon, Richard Carrick, Alla Cohen, Marti Epstein, Beth Denisch, Anne Goldberg-Baldwin, and Apostolos Paraskevas;
And of course, my fantastic music production/technology and multimedia professors at Berklee València, including Marta Verde Baqueiro, Pablo Schuller, Sergi Palau, Simone Tanda, Nacho Marco, Daniel Castelar, and Pablo Munguia;
And many many more people!

Website: https://www.shabnamjkermani.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabnamjkermani/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shabnamjafarinasabkermani/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShabnamJKermani/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUZORG7r-r7S5fpzX-DeYRw

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53uG5uyizwHI6EVuncPOnX?si=nnzUnWgfSsaazaNBMsPQNg

My Installation Website: https://shabnamjkermani.wixsite.com/gisovan

Image Credits
1. Amin Golchinpour (main picture, first page)

Second page pictures, in order:
2. Ishaan Jagyasi
3. Cole Nelson
4. Jesus Martinez Retamal
5. Ishaan Jagyasi
6. Amin Golchinpour
7. Shirin Jafari
8. Amin Golchinpour
9. Amin Golchinpour