Mariam Rezaei

Mariam Rezaei (born 16 October 1984) is a composer, performer, DJ and improviser. Mariam works predominantly with turntables, piano, vocals and electronics.

Life and Career

Mariam grew up in Gateshead, England, playing the classical piano. She first developed an interest in DJing at the age of fifteen and began writing music at this time. Her interest in writing with turntables developed a little while later, as she was competing in local and national DJ competitions.

Mariam Rezaei is the Musical Director of NOISESTRA, a turntable ensemble of young people who are residents at the Old Police House in Gateshead. She is also the musical director of Northern Proud Voices, an LBGT choir based in Newcastle.^[1] She is currently researching the poetry of the Persian poet, Rumi, and the aesthetic of the Lion as Ego, the dichotomy between Intellect and Love and its relationship with Art. ^[2][3]

Performances

2012

For the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, she composed for NOISESTRA,^[4] to perform with Apartment House at the Sage Gateshead, 2012 and Edinburgh in 2013. She was invited by Ilan Volkov as a guest improviser for the BBC Proms 47 in 2012,^[5][6] at the John Cage Centenary Celebration. She performed ‘Jig Hop’ with Kathryn Tickell and Folkestra for the BT River of Music Festival as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad,^[7] in Trafalgar Square.

2014

She performed graphic scores by Richard Dawson, developing new work as Wax Magnetic, a new BFI commission for ‘Der Golem’ with Noize Choir,^[8] ‘SuperDream’ with Isis Arts, Swallows Foundation, British Council ZA and The Trinity Session ZA.^[9] Other recent commissions include Olavsfestdagene, Norway, for Turntable Quartet, Solo voice and Double Bassist Michael Duch, and ‘INSiiiDE’ an ensemble piece for Ilan Volkov, Tectonics Festival, Tel Aviv. ‘ANX’ was a commission for TECTONICS GLASGOW and the BBC, for members of the BBC SSO and Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, premiered on 1 May and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. With support from Arts Council England, Mariam began the first ever composer residency at the Literary and Philosophical Society Library, Newcastle,^[10] in May 2014, working with Neil Davidson (Glasgow), Rhodri Davies (Gateshead) and Michael Duch (Norway) in short term research projects.

2015

Mariam composes and performs in theatre including ‘Flock’ and ‘Cinema’ by ZENDEH, ^[11] ‘Beats North’ by Curious Monkey, both in 2015 ^[12] ‘Into Thin Air’ by Precious Cargo,^[13] ‘Here Is The News’ Northern Stage and Lorne Campbell,^[14] ‘Your Aunt Fanny’, Live Theatre^[15] and ‘Jumping Puddles’ by Open Clasp Theatre Co.^[16]

Awards

Mariam was awarded Best Newcomer 2012 Award at the Journal Culture Awards ^[17] and the ‘Enhancing Communities’ Award with Northern Proud Voices in 2014.^[18]

References

^{[19] [20]}

External links

• Official website
• Northern Proud Voices Choir
• ZENDEH
• Northern Stage
• Live Theatre