We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shabnam J. Kermani. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shabnam below.

Hi Shabnam, thanks for joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

I’ve learned something valuable in every job or opportunity that I have had, because in every one of them, I met really wonderful people whom I learned really important lessons from, both in the arts and in life. One specific one I can mention is learning how to be a good team member and collaborator. I learned from many experiences that it is so important to know your role and your place in a team. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. It is a fact that every role and position has its own certain expectations and responsibilities. And while it is helpful to be flexible and be able to wear many hats, you always want to make sure that you are fulfilling the responsibilities of your main role, and are not taking over another person’s role. It can be necessary to do so, in certain times, but in this case, I am talking about respect; respecting the other team members and showing your trust in their abilities to perform their roles. As an example, I have taken many leadership roles in teams and I know my responsibilities in those situations. I used to want to apply the same mannerisms when I was not the leader. However, through multiple experiences, jobs, and also just growing and learning from friends, I know now that when I am NOT leading a project or team, I should respect the leader and also the other team members by giving them the support they need by doing my job in my role as best as possible. Of course, I still want to show initiative and contribute creatively, but I respect the vision of the project’s leader, their ability to direct the project, and everyone else’s dedication to the project and their responsibilities. The art world is such a collaborative environment and good results in that environment come when people work alongside each other towards one goal and vision, when they have healthy competition, when they put aside ego and don’t try to take over the entire project. Everyone in the team has a valuable role, and everyone does their best within that role. There is no room for condescending behavior, because, ESPECIALLY in art, the way a work was made, how the team interacted, and how everyone worked together really comes through in the art itself. So, having a good and healthy team dynamic is extremely important. We all want to contribute to the projects we are in, we all want to help the vision and make it the best it can be (as we should!), we all want to rise up in our positions, and so having opinions, suggestions, and creative inputs is truly needed and wonderful. But also, it’s always important to remember that doing what you are there to do, in your role, in your position within the team is the best support and respect you can give to everyone involved. Keep your ego in check!

Shabnam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a music composer and producer based in LA, and have also worked as a multimedia artist, engineer, and educator. I have branched out to many different things throughout my career, and I do enjoy exploring new skills and fields, all of which I believe, can help me in my journey in music and life.
I am originally from Tehran, Iran, and since moving to the U.S., I have tried to represent my culture in my work, and to find a balance between my life and experience in Iran and in the U.S. I began learning music in Iran at a young age – thanks to my art-loving and supportive family – starting with the piano, and over the years, found my passion in writing music, composing for media, and also, in music technology.
I received my Bachelor’s in Film Scoring and Conducting from Berklee College of Music (Boston) in 2022, and my Master’s degree in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation from Berklee Valencia (Spain) in 2023. While my first and foremost passion in music is composition, specifically scoring for media, I also fell in love with recording, engineering, and the process of music production. Now, my goal is to pursue both and become well-rounded in all those areas.
I have composed original scores for numerous short films and animations, and have acted as the producer, engineer, or assistant engineer for several artists, all of which have given me a rich knowledge of working with musicians and creators with different backgrounds. Through my education and freelance experiences, I have gained an extensive knowledge of composition, music theory, orchestration, arrangement, ensemble performance, music technology, recording techniques, and the music production process (mixing, mastering, notation and copyist works, session management), and conducting orchestra or chamber ensembles. During my Master’s, I also received a thorough education in multimedia works and installations, and my thesis, Gisovān: Voicing a Revolution, was an interactive installation about the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in my home country of Iran, which was showcased in May 2023 in Valencia, Spain, and in April 2024 in Paris, France.
What draws me to composition, production, multimedia works, and working with artists and has always fascinated me is the power of music as a storyteller that brings all people, no matter their backgrounds, together, and I hope to work and collaborate with as many storytellers in all artistic fields as I can.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe there needs to be more opportunities and support for new and young artists/creatives to explore their field and showcase their work. As we know, the “industry” (the big word!) for creators can be a harsh environment. We all know that, so why not try to give those who are starting their journey more support and guidance? More chances for their skills and talents to shine? There are, of course, resources and mentors who already do that, but I think overall, the potential and profitability of things has taken over, and so it is harder for new artists and creatives to start and move up when most resources are being spent on making more profits from already established artists. I’m not saying supporting the major artists is wrong, but I think there needs to be some room for new artists to rise as well. Additionally, what we need to have a thriving environment for creatives is to change the industry, change the ways, change the culture for the better. There is no need for some older, and frankly, toxic ways to still exist today. There is a very common line that says “oh well, that is just how the society/industry is” which I completely disagree with! Yes, that is how it is now, but we ARE the society/industry! We have the power to change it and break the cycle. We all want to thrive in the creative industry and share our art, but we should also have the goal of making changes for the future, to make things safer and more supportive for the young artists who will pursue this path after us. The idea of imposing the same ways on them just because we might have gone through them (“I struggled, so they should too to get here”) is not a healthy one. Creatives and artists all go through the struggles already! So, why not try to use our voice and position to make this path a better one for the future?

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the core of my creative journey is my passion for telling stories, and the wonder of creating something tangible and audible based on ideas that live in one’s own head and inner world. I want to tell my story – and quite frankly, write it – through my work, but also, to help others tell theirs. Not all of us can relate to a specific story, but we can all feel it – or feel SOMETHING – when the emotions, connections, and nuances of that story are told through music. That is what drives me: to say something, create something, and make something that brings emotions, memories, and actions to people (or even to just one person); something that makes you think, question, or discover things. Whenever I listen to music to feel better or to even cry, I always think “I hope someone can listen to my music one day and feel less lonely or feel more motivated, just like how I am feeling now”. I think I also want to leave something behind in this world; a trace of me and something that says this person existed and had a story. I want to make my time in this world count.
Equally important in this journey are my feelings for the people I love. The love I feel for and from them, the experiences, memories, and causes are what inspire me, give me determination, and really bring life to what I create. Stories are the goal of my work, the people are the soul.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shabnamjkermani.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabnamjkermani/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShabnamJKermani/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shabnamjafarinasabkermani/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUZORG7r-r7S5fpzX-DeYRw
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/shabnam-j-kermani
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53uG5uyizwHI6EVuncPOnX?si=E5TOtKpOSIGFh7EmIagRJA
  My Installation Website: https://shabnamjkermani.wixsite.com/gisovan

Image Credits

1. Görsev Tepe
2. Görsev Tepe
3. Amin Golchinpour
4. Jesus Martinez Retamal
5. Shirin Jafari
6. Ishaan Jagyasi
7. Cole Nelson
8. Ishaan Jagyasi