Maryam

Musician / Med Student — Hamburg

01Profile

A Maryam Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from? 
My name is Maryam. I was born and grew up in a village near Frankfurt. I am Iranian and German and I live mostly in Hamburg, sometimes Berlin.

What do you do? 
I am a med student and a musician. I sing and write music, play the violin and some piano.

Describe your style in three words? 
Classy, grungy, feminine.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Girl in red. It was a club tour in 2019 and she wasn't a star yet. but OMG she was a star then.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Sevdaliza and Stormzy. I think Stormzy and I would make a great band. haha. And Sevdaliza is just so outstandingly great in what she does. HOW she does it. I love the energy she transfers. and I guess she feels so relatable to me.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Persian subculture of Iranian's living outside their home country. Because it's what raised me. Goth. I just like the mixture of classic and goth elements. Everything meshes in a good balance with a nice polo collar and golden jewellery is me. Opera/academic chic is the next part. I've spent years singing in opera choirs and playing the violin in such surroundings. Thus it was impossible for me, to not have a proper chic wardrobe and adapt to my stiff and partly crazy surroundings. Guess that describes my mixture quite well.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Ms. Lauryn Hill. It's incredible how she just made one record and influenced all of us like that.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Fun fact: I have not played many independent venues yet. Once, we played a spontaneous gig on my balcony and it was CROWDED below. That was just next to the best hangout spot in town, the so-called “corner”. Besides that, I really love Dockville festival and all the small event series, that Hamburg has in store. Oh, and Docks. I love Docks as a rather big concert venue.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Little Simz.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Quelqu'un m'a dit' by Carla Bruni.

A song that defines the teenage you?
lol. This is the embarrassing, pop, mainstream me now: 'Knock You Down' by Keri Hilson, Kanye West.

One record you would keep forever?
'The Life of Pablo' by Kanye West.

A song you wished you had written?
'Pienso en tu mira' by ROSALIA. I love how she combines tradition and hype. Merci!

Best song to turn up loud?
'Age Ye Rooz' by Faramarz Aslani.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'I'm The Man, That Will Find You' by Connan Mockasin.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You' by Ms. Lauryn Hill - again. 

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'It Rains Love' by Lee Fields.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
YEИDRY
Anton WEIL
Dissy
The KTNA
Okay Kaya
Lizzo
Symba

03Interview

Name, where are you from? 
My name is Maryam. I was born and grew up in a village near Frankfurt. I am Iranian and German and I live mostly in Hamburg, sometimes Berlin.

What do you do? 
I am a med student and a musician. I sing and write music, play the violin and some piano.

Describe your style in three words? 
Classy, grungy, feminine.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Girl in red. It was a club tour in 2019 and she wasn't a star yet. but OMG she was a star then.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Sevdaliza and Stormzy. I think Stormzy and I would make a great band. haha. And Sevdaliza is just so outstandingly great in what she does. HOW she does it. I love the energy she transfers. and I guess she feels so relatable to me.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Persian subculture of Iranian's living outside their home country. Because it's what raised me. Goth. I just like the mixture of classic and goth elements. Everything meshes in a good balance with a nice polo collar and golden jewellery is me. Opera/academic chic is the next part. I've spent years singing in opera choirs and playing the violin in such surroundings. Thus it was impossible for me, to not have a proper chic wardrobe and adapt to my stiff and partly crazy surroundings. Guess that describes my mixture quite well.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Ms. Lauryn Hill. It's incredible how she just made one record and influenced all of us like that.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Fun fact: I have not played many independent venues yet. Once, we played a spontaneous gig on my balcony and it was CROWDED below. That was just next to the best hangout spot in town, the so-called “corner”. Besides that, I really love Dockville festival and all the small event series, that Hamburg has in store. Oh, and Docks. I love Docks as a rather big concert venue.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Little Simz.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Quelqu'un m'a dit' by Carla Bruni.

A song that defines the teenage you?
lol. This is the embarrassing, pop, mainstream me now: 'Knock You Down' by Keri Hilson, Kanye West.

One record you would keep forever?
'The Life of Pablo' by Kanye West.

A song you wished you had written?
'Pienso en tu mira' by ROSALIA. I love how she combines tradition and hype. Merci!

Best song to turn up loud?
'Age Ye Rooz' by Faramarz Aslani.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'I'm The Man, That Will Find You' by Connan Mockasin.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You' by Ms. Lauryn Hill - again. 

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'It Rains Love' by Lee Fields.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
YEИDRY
Anton WEIL
Dissy
The KTNA
Okay Kaya
Lizzo
Symba