We recently connected with Tara Pirayandeh and have shared our conversation below.
Tara, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
It’s a hard question to respond!
I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Music has been my constant companion, my confidant, and my passion. It has given me a voice, a way to express the depths of my emotions and the richness of my thoughts.
Pursuing a degree in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music is a dream come true. It’s a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and persistence.
As a musician and composer, I am thrilled to be working on various film projects that challenge me creatively and push me to grow as an artist.
Composing music for films is way beyond my expectations.it’s about crafting an emotional experience that resonates with audiences. It’s about tapping into the heartbeat of a story and bringing it to life through music.
As a Tar player(a traditional Iranian string), I’ve had the privilege of sharing my music with diverse communities, and I am humbled by the connections I’ve made and the stories I’ve heard.
My upcoming concerts in Los Angeles and San Francisco are my newest projects that I have been working on and it’s going to be unforgettable experiences that will remind me of the transformative power of music.
My goal is to create music that inspires, uplifts, and connects people across cultures and communities. I believe that music has the power to break down barriers, to heal emotional wounds, and to bring people together in a shared experience of beauty and wonder. I feel thankful to be on this journey, to be able to share my music with others, and to be a part of something much larger than myself!
It is not the individual projects that define me, but the collective impact of my music on the lives of those who listen.
The greatest project I’ve undertaken is the ongoing journey of sharing my music and emotions with others. There’s no greater joy than witnessing the impact of my music on those who listen. Seeing the reflection of my emotions in their eyes, feeling their hearts resonate with mine, and knowing that my music has brought them comfort, joy, or inspiration. This is the greatest reward I could ask for.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Tara Pirayandeh, and I am a musician, singer, and composer hailing from Isfahan, Iran. Growing up in a family with a profound appreciation for art and music, I was engaged in a world of music from an early age.
At the age of 3, I began my musical exploration with the xylophone, and by the time I was 7, I was already performing on stage. This early start laid the groundwork for my deep connection to music. My first professional instrument, the Tombak, an Iranian percussion instrument, became my focus at the age of 7.
Under the guidance of one of the most respected Tombak masters, Bahman Rajabi, I worked on my skills and developed a profound understanding of this traditional instrument.
When I turned 9, I transitioned to the Tar, my true musical love, inspired by legendary figures like Jalil Shahnaz and Mohammadreza Lotfi. Over the years, I had the privilege of studying with some of the most respected musicians, including Hossein Alizadeh, Shahram Miljalali, Ali Jahandar, Aliasghar Shahzaidi, and Amir Eslami. Their mentorship shaped my artistry and deepened my musical knowledge.
My performance career began early, and I have had the honor of performing on stages both within Iran and internationally. From local concerts to prestigious festivals, I’ve shared the beauty of Persian music with diverse audiences, connecting with listeners across the globe.
On the academic side, I graduated from high school at just 13 years old, skipping three years of middle school to transition directly from elementary school to high school. At 17, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a field I’ve always had an interest in alongside my music.
Pursuing my passion further, I moved to Boston to study at the renowned Berklee College of Music, where I am currently working toward degrees in Film Scoring. This next chapter of my journey allows me to combine my classical roots with modern innovations, blending the traditional and the contemporary in exciting new ways.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
We really need to approach art with an open and positive mindset. Art isn’t just something we look at; it’s a window into the artist’s soul, a reflection of their innermost thoughts and emotions. We should be welcoming of those expressions, we need to welcome the rawness and authenticity in each piece. When we support artists, we’re supporting diversity, creativity, and the beautiful variety that makes art so powerful.
In today’s world, one of the most important things we can do is support artists in staying true to themselves. We should encourage them to express all their talent, their originality, and the real essence of who they are. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of pressure these days—sometimes from others, sometimes even from within the art world itself—to create something safe, something that doesn’t stand out too much. Too often, artists are asked to replicate what’s already been done or to fit into someone else’s mold. Some are even told to mimic other people’s styles, and I believe that’s destructive. It suppresses creativity and can feel like the most damaging thing that can happen to an artist or composer.
Art should be free, and it should be unique. Each person has their own beauty to share with the world, just like a star in the sky. When artists are given the freedom to fully express themselves, that’s when their creativity truly shines—when they can share something new and raw with the world. And that’s what we need more of: art that comes from a place of freedom, a place where they’re allowed to be themselves without the pressure to conform.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal, as I’ve mentioned before, is to find my unique voice in the world of music and create something that truly feels like me—something that carries my signature, my essence. Despite all the struggles and pressures I’ve faced in life in the Middle East, despite the limitations and difficulties that have shaped me, I want to create a sound that is entirely my own. I want to express the art that’s deep within me, and share it in a way that feels real and beautiful. Music, for me, isn’t just about expressing emotions—it’s about connecting with people, letting them see and feel what I’m feeling.
With the rich musical history and culture of my country behind me, I want to bring this art to the world in a way that’s fresh and new, but still honors its roots. I want my music to resonate with others, just as it has always resonated with me. I want people to listen and feel understood, to feel like they’re not alone. My music should be a universal language—something that connects hearts across all boundaries, bringing us closer together.
In a world where so many are going through tough times, where life feels heavy for people all over the world, I want my music to offer some kind of healing. I want it to be a comfort, a soothing balm for wounded souls. I want people to turn to my music when they need peace, when they need to heal, when they just need to feel something deeper. I want my music to be a place where people can forget their struggles, even if just for a moment, and find something that makes them feel whole again.
I know that the true purpose of this journey is to touch the lives of others. It’s about them. I want to have an impact, a deep, meaningful impact on people’s hearts. Music has the power to touch places inside us that words alone can’t reach. That’s what art does—it goes beyond logic and speaks directly to the heart and soul. Artists have the ability to create something that moves people in a way that’s hard to explain, but so powerful. This is why art and the artist are so precious. I believe that through my music, I can help make the world a little better, a little kinder, and that in doing so, people can find comfort and healing in my music, just when they need it most…
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.instagram.com/tara.pirayandeh/%3Fhl%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwjE0OPdqN2LAxU5D1kFHYXBBQgQFnoECDUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1RuCiMwuGFWSlxLTjosM5R
- Youtube: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwflwufR-03weZgt6Uh_fPQ%3Ffeature%3Dgws_kp_artist%26feature%3Dgws_kp_artist&ved=2ahUKEwjE0OPdqN2LAxU5D1kFHYXBBQgQgD16BAgKEAM&usg=AOvVaw38Qr3JE37jOBiQs6Fmsloh
- Soundcloud: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://soundcloud.com/tara-pirayandeh&ved=2ahUKEwjE0OPdqN2LAxU5D1kFHYXBBQgQ9zB6BAgIEAc&usg=AOvVaw3iEVASuDXJgzn-BF5r6o12
- Other: Spotify :
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TiyA2AIzzqZWu1b6utoR9&ved=2ahUKEwjLqqj-qN2LAxWLKFkFHTYdFmgQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1YNISRxkL1X4IiQFJ0ISsLapple music:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tara-pirayandeh/1623675747&ved=2ahUKEwjE0OPdqN2LAxU5D1kFHYXBBQgQgD16BAgKEAs&usg=AOvVaw11w0hfAasrJZsZNOMYTQ5-
Image Credits
tara pirayandeh