ARTIST TALK WITH IMAN HOUSSEIN
Iman Houssein is a singer, songwriter, and producer from London, UK. Migrated from his hometown, Ahwaz, Iran, when he was 5, Iman Houssein explore the merged London sound and incorporate it with his rich ethnic musical background bringing the past and the present. He's the new wave of exciting artists in our book.
He released "Theodora" from the mighty BBE label on the 30th of June and, we want to share his story in this interview.
In Early June, you released the single "Theodora", can you share the story of your release through BBE? (BBE is one of our favourite labels).
I was approached by Lefto who had previously asked me to release a song for his compilation via BBE ‘The Beauty Inside’ which was released in September last year. I was then approach by the BBE team and asked if I'd like to release something on the label.
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The song itself was inspired by my love of House music as a genre, one which I’ve long created within but hadn’t released, something i am going to be doing a lot more in future. The music aims the flirt between the cyclic hypnosis of house and the wondering expressive charm of orchestral music particularly that of the east.
On the 30th, we are finally going to hear House of Light. Can you tell us about the track?
The song is one of love, longing and humility, attempting to capture a kind of admiration that is above form or material possession. I write about God and what you hear is a song about a loved one, whoever the listener wants that one to be.
The first time we heard Slow Things Down (That stays in our music playlist forever), we were like, who is this? We were so mesmerized by the vocal and tonality of your music. Can you share your creative process behind this tune? What was your reason behind pitching your vocal down?
I appreciate that its being enjoyed by you guys, it's always so nice to hear. The song was birthed from a poem which dictated the direction and musical form. The structure of the song is linear which needs it to rise and fall as a story would. What I had to think about most was a constant musical development that moved the narrative and structure forward while also adding the idea of tension and surprise. Part of that was a change in meaning from what starts off as a melancholic reflection expressed in the aiding of the pitched down voice to that of a lifting of weight in the rise of pitch in the last verse. Songs are messages audiences want to be familiar with, they are vicarious and sometimes people the audience want to be. I want to recall and expand upon a memory into a direction you wouldn’t have thought of exploring but are relieved you are going.
What song have you been listening to? Name 5 songs.
1. Anton Webern, slow movement for string quartet
2. Mohamed Murshid Naji, Ya saili an hawa al mahbub
3. Eddie Palmieri, Oyelo Que Te Conviene
4. Christian Scott, Fatima Aisha Rokero 400
5. Nasser Al Qatami, Surah Haqqah
Sampha or James Blake?
James Blake
Do you see yourself collaborating with other like-minded Iranians to create the future of the sound of Iran?
I would very much like to collaborate with Iranians working in other practices. Iranians as a people are deeply poetic and compassionate which I would love to share with the world.
Last question, can we expect an album in the future? As Prince said, the album matters.
I hope so, I have quite an expansive outlook on my creativity and would very much like to work on more long form projects, in and outside of musical form. I enjoy the free-spirited nature of making a song that captures a singular idea. The progression from one song to another can be subtle or great whereas an album would want to be told in chapters. If i am blessed enough to have the means and positive feedback from the audience then i would love to be gifted an album.
For more of Iman Houssein's music, go here