https://www.phf.org.uk/artist/mariam-rezaei/
Mariam Rezaei (born 1984) is an award-winning composer and performer. Her work is at the forefront of new, cutting-edge research in ‘Turntablism’; the intersection of hip-hop and new experimental turntable practices combined with a grounding in experimental new music aesthetics, philosophy and rigour.
Her music has recently been described as “genuinely ground-breaking” (LCMF 2022, London Jazz News) and “high-velocity sonic surrealism” (LCMF 2022, 4* The Guardian). Her newest work includes the album SKEEN released on Fractal Meat Cuts, for which she developed a new ‘suspension theory’ that is unique to turntable composition. This involves composing sound materials for vinyl records using specific techniques within a compositional framework that includes space and flexibility for improvisation.
She previously directed The Old Police House project (TOPH), and is Artistic Director of TUSK Festival, platforming local musicians alongside visiting national and international artists, mentoring students and musicians in the local community in professional practice. TUSK operates in the post-industrial, working-class landscape of Newcastle and Gateshead, curating a regular series of concerts along with an annual TUSK NORTH Festival, in partnership with Newcastle University.
Rezaei presents a podcast on contemporary turntablism called These Are The Breaks… She is currently working on a book to accompany the podcast series, focusing on the cross-genre nature of turntablism in the last two decades from the perspective of a northern, mixed heritage, working class, queer, female turntablist.
Following her previous appointment as Composer in Residence at the Literary and Philosophical Society in 2015, Rezaei joined the Literary and Philosophical Music Library Committee in 2019, where she contributes to the cohesion and community building of a Newcastle landmark historical institution.
Receiving this award is truly an honour. Given the esteemed list of previous awardees, this award also serves as recognition for the turntable and its many achievements. The generous support of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation will allow me to invest time, dreams, and new experiments into my turntable compositions. It is a gift of space and support at a critical time in my career, where like many other artists, I am rebuilding my portfolio amidst the impact of the pandemic.
Turntable (Mariam Rezaei). Live manipulation of original music sample using Traktor DJ digital vinyl on two Technics 1200 turntables with a Traktor Z2 DJ mixer. 3 minutes 52 seconds duration (extract 1m 58s). Taken from forthcoming third solo album BOWN, 2022.
Turntable quartet with solo performer (Mariam Rezaei). Composed for the Vestax Controller One Turntable and three Technics SL-1200 turntables. The work utilises samples of speech which are transformed through phasing, looping and filters. 25 minutes 52 seconds duration (extract 2m 1s). Commissioned for Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2019 and performed live.
Voice (Alya Al-Sultani), turntables (Mariam Rezaei). Performed with one microphone and two turntables, moving through Middle-Eastern poetry, coloratura vocals and space-jazz turntablist-purges. 6 minutes duration (extract 2m). Live improvisation at Cafe Oto, June 2021.
Solo turntablist work composed during lockdown from a short, looping voice note on Vestax Controller One Turntable and one Technics SL-1200 turntable. 6 minutes duration (extract 1m 59s).