Sharing the truth

For some reason, community for me is artistic. It's musical people, party people, and Starlings happened to be just the right place. We have similar values. Maybe equality is an outdated word, but it's a kind of peace, loving. Even beyond music and folk tunes, there's something about it that you cannot put words on, but we all know, and that's peace and solidarity and friendship. You could see it in the people who are attending — they are people that care about the environment, about justice, about human rights. It's an interesting phenomenon, like, how could you come up with this? But it's happening, and it's true. 

I’ve been bringing a sitar, a bit of guitar, little bit of drum. It is a learning space as well. I've been playing instruments, but since I started coming to Starlings, it got more serious, you know? Practicing more, the learning is immense, just from your peers. You could go to a lecture for a year, or just sit by somebody who's really experienced, and they tell you how to do it. I wasn’t really a musician. Starlings gave me the support and the platform to increase my confidence. Saying ‘confidence’ is one way, but I think I had the opportunity to develop more as a person, as a musician who could share his music with other people. 

It's very motivating, people bringing their own folk, from their own heritage. It's very deep for me, how you identify yourself as a person; going back to your roots and seeing, what is your culture and what is it that you want to bring? Iranians have this thing about themselves, they fancy themselves being, you know, not like Middle Eastern. But actually, when we go to our roots, we are similar. You know, this whole joke of, falafel and humous brings the whole Middle East together, brings peace because everybody agrees with it. So, I found this song, which was like, melting between Farsi and Arabic. And it’s a beautiful tune as well. 

The song was from the South of Iran. It's about Helel Yos – somebody who's persecuted. It was happening during the whole Gaza situation. I had so much depression, so it just felt like the right thing to express. Letting go of sorrows, you know, and solidarity as well. Representing the one that didn't have support and bringing his or her music out. Somebody who is suffering is celebrated because he or she is rejoicing in music and letting go of sadness, of the disadvantages, and kind of overcoming it as well. 

The Afro-Iranian community is marginalised, and this song is from there. It’s like a Black, afro, Iranian, singing in Arabic. Sort of like an African American story, but African Asian people. Through art and music, expressing culture and suffering – a lot of folk music does this. In Iran, you know, there's Islamic rule. Music was illegal. It still is kind of taboo. Helel Yos is a kind of music that you can have a drum or, like, a trash can, something you can play. The music that gets people through the oppressive days and years. For Iranians, it’s a reminder of joy and peace and love that you cannot change, you cannot shut up, because eventually, you can sit by the sea or by the river and, like, drum it over. 

It was attached to my brain somehow. I can't really explain the rhythm. When I play it, I can play it, but I cannot actually… you know? It’s just the ridiculous talent of people like Lauren. They can just pick it up and perform it. Just mind boggling. I’m singing and Lauren starts playing the piano, like lalala, okay, and they add to it, they compose around it.  

The original song, the lyrics are very juicy and fruity, so we choose different lyrics from another song, also very popular, in the same rhythm. A love song. The singer goes ‘Allah’, and he sings like ‘mashallah’, things like that. Again, Farsi lyrics, but they add in Arabic words. It’s the same genre, but it's talking about, you know, boys and girls by the seaside, falling in love, things like that. I cannot say I compromise by changing the lyrics, because that one was quite culturally close to my heart. Equally lovable, you know? 

I was feeling the whole idea of being Muslim has been wrongly represented. At least in my view, in the community I come from, that doesn't mean you cannot have a party, doesn't mean there is no poetry and music and dancing. These are things we appreciate. It’s a struggle. I identify as Muslim, and lots of my friends do as well, but there's like, a typical Muslim that's supposed to go to prayer and doesn't listen to music, even though in Islamic countries, music is big part of people's life. 

I've been involved in two performances. One before summer, and one recently. It was awesome. People loved it, I loved it. I felt it through my heart. It was really beautiful. We learn beautiful, beautiful songs. There is a Jewish song. A Ukrainian one. And it's fascinating that they all just hit the spot in the right place, you know. There’s one about the Netherlands for drinkers. Spanish ones, a couple English ones. All beautiful. An Italian one. So good. I love it. The authenticity of it, it’s just a very human experience. 

I think authenticity comes from sharing the truth. Not for money or to be famous. I give you an interesting example. Once upon a time in Greece, in one of the islands, there was a refugee camp, really shithole. What kept people going? People sat around together, from like, Sudan to Afghanistan. And everyone was singing along, you know, singing their own country’s song and no instruments, just clapping along. Back in the day, the Silk Road from China to Europe, the caravan would stop, they rest for a few days and move on. And there are stories of those caravans, the places people stay, being shared. I think Starlings has that kind of magic to it. You know, sitting around, sharing your truths. It's a very old human thing that we want to tell our stories and just go our own ways. 

What's changed for me? I guess it’s like, more engaging with the community, perhaps feeling more included, having more social connections, things like that. A little more confident. I had so much drama happening in life, so much, so much. It was opportunity to reassure myself that I can do it. Which I didn’t have a lot of before. Thing is with me; I'm so fucked up. It's very difficult to measure the impact, you know? PTSD, depression, all sorts of thing going on. Family drama. But it has enhanced my experience. Hanging out with really good musicians and nice people that you can associate with. It’s a great opportunity. A community, you know, a community of same minded people that share music. 

I've been trying to do different music with the other Starling people. A smaller group, potentially doing something. A Starling spin-off. I regard Starlings as my community, as my people. It has a social purpose as well, you know? For example, sponsoring refugees in the hotel to bring them in. It's not only people sitting around having a good time!