Maryam Rahmani shares “Khayyam” from upcoming debut album KAMAND
MARYAM RAHMANI SHARES LATEST SINGLE
“KHAYYAM”
BUY/STREAM HERE
TAKEN FROM FORTHCOMING DEBUT ALBUM
KAMAND
PRE-ORDER HERE
OUT FRIDAY 22 AUGUST VIA MUSIC IN EXILE
Adelaide-based Iranian musician Maryam Rahmani unveils her newest single, “Khayyam”, taken from her forthcoming debut album KAMAND, out Friday 22 August via Music In Exile.
Symbiotic with recent spellbinding single “Encanto”, “Khayyam” today delves further into the entrancing world of KAMAND, crystallised in a dance of beautiful improvised piano sections and classical Persian instrumentation involving the Kamancheh. Inspired by Bushehr’s musical tradition Khayyam Khani, flamenco palmas and traditional Iranian vocals shape the rhythm atop this stirring instrumental blueprint.
On the track, Maryam says: “In Bushehr, locals gather for Khayyam Khani, a unique musical tradition of southern Iran where the poetry of Omar Khayyam is brought to life through song. The ceremony becomes a shared experience, with everyone joining in through rhythmic clapping.”
Maryam’s upcoming album, KAMAND is an exploration of acculturation, the delicate and often dissonant process of merging into a host culture while honouring ancestral roots, made on Kaurna and Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country. Across the record, Maryam navigates improvisation and identity through santur, voice and kamancheh, supported by an ensemble of boundary-pushing collaborators: Rosalie Cocchiaro (flamenco rhythm), David Moran (cello), Sebastian Collen (piano, electronics) and Gustavo Quintino (double bass). While grounded in the Persian classical repertoire and inspired by poetry, the album resists tradition-as-orthodoxy – instead reimagining ancient forms through experimental structures, spontaneous composition and cross-cultural conversation.
Maryam says: “I think my first album shows how deeply I’m rooted in my Iranian culture, and how, at the same time, I’m trying to integrate into a new one. Musically, I don’t see it as fully successful in creating a new language yet — it still feels like two different languages trying to connect and find mutual understanding.”
This August, Maryam is confirmed to perform a string of awe-inspiring shows to celebrate the album’s release, hitting Kaurna/Adelaide’s Nexus Arts on Wednesday 23 August and Naarm/Melbourne’s Tender on Saturday 30 August, the latter show performed in duo with multi-instrumentalist Grace Ferguson on harmonium and supported by Whelk (Genevieve Fry and Manisha Anjali). Mid-tour on Thursday 28 August, Maryam will reunite with KAMAND collaborators David Moran, Sebastian Collen and Clayton Thomas, in a special live reimagining of their studio explorations at Eora/Sydney’s Phoenix Central Park. Bridging Persian classical music, experimental composition and contemporary performance, the trio will improvise across sonic and cultural boundaries – blending electronic textures, virtuosic cello and santur in a genre-defying experience.
A trained performer of Iranian traditional music, Maryam began flamenco dance classes soon after arriving in Adelaide – an experience that transformed her approach to rhythm, flow, and artistic freedom. Her debut album also reflects Maryam’s growing collaborative practice in Australia. Drawing from past work with ensembles including Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Baroque and Australian Art Orchestra, as well as her participation in international residencies such as Banff Centre’s Soundweaving, KAMAND marks a personal and creative turning point for this artist.
“KHAYYAM” IS OUT NOW VIA MUSIC IN EXILE
BUY/STREAM HERE
KAMAND IS OUT FRIDAY 22 AUGUST
PRE-ORDER HERE
MARYAM RAHMANI
INSTAGRAM
MARYAM RAHMANI – UPCOMING SHOWS
Saturday 23 August – Nexus Arts, Kaurna/Adelaide (more info here)
Thursday 28 August – Phoenix Central Park, Eora/Sydney (more info here)
Saturday 30 August – Tender, Naarm/Melbourne (tickets here)
