Today we’d like to introduce you to Keyhan Kamelian.
Keyhan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got started on music at the age of 8, when my mother signed me up for Glockenspiel lessons at a local music institute in my hometown, Mashhad in Iran. Glockenspiel was the entry-level instrument all students initially had to take on, in order to play their way up to piano/keyboard later at that institute. I enjoyed playing the songs so much that, I’d finished the music book on my own by the 3rd lesson and skipped right into the next instrument, the Recorder. I learnt the required techniques and finished the books during the summer that followed and began studying Classical Piano performance under the direction of Yaghoub Sahaf. It was during this period of my life, that my passion for the instrument really blossomed and I accelerated through performing more and more technically challenging pieces. In addition, my eagerness and curiosity for composing revealed itself during this point in my life. However, a relocation to Dubai, UAE due to my father’s occupation altered the direction of my musical journey.
In Dubai, I resumed piano lessons after a long break under the supervision of Nillie Petrova, who encouraged and prepared me to apply for Trinity Guildhall Piano Performance examinations. I passed the grade 8 examinations with a distinction and decided to take a break from classical piano music. I was just beginning the arduous International Baccalaureate diploma program at high school and my free time was spared mostly for creating very basic Electronic music compositions in my high school music classes and playing original tunes and covers with a band I had put together. The last two years of high school were very determining years. I’d taken Economics, Chemistry and Physics as Higher Level subjects and the conversation was always revolving around which one of those I’d be pursuing at college. A professional career in music was never a serious thought for me until the last year of high school, when I finally realized and embraced my unparalleled passion for performing, composing and scoring music for visuals. As United States is known to be one of the main hubs for contemporary music studies, I applied to New York University and Berklee College of Music as they offered specific programs at undergraduate level. With acceptances from both, Berklee’s Film Scoring and Performance majors greatly pertained to me and to my career goals so, I chose Berklee to begin in the Fall 2013 semester.
Every term at Berklee was a rollercoaster of opportunities and decisions to make. I was exposed to an array of new genres, concepts and fields. I wanted to learn and do them all. In the very beginning, my love for composition and exploring the fusion of various genres surpassed everything else and lead me to creating Keyhan Kamelian Trio, composing and performing my original Persian Folk Jazz tunes around campus. I then switched focus officially to double majoring in Contemporary Writing & Production and Electronic Production & Design. I learnt how to arrange for a variety of ensemble sizes, from small band and Acappella to Big Band and Orchestra. At the same time, I was picking up music production, analog synthesis and sound design for visuals techniques on the other side of the campus. Learning all the things that I did, opened the gate to many collaboration and professional opportunities that helped pave the way for me to become who I am today and do what I do today.
I have had the pleasure to play piano/keys for renowned artist Antonio Serrano’s Paco de Lucia’s tribute concert, accompany the band Gio y Lu on their tour in Mexico, accompany Belyana Hristova at Carnegie Hall, arrange for various Berklee Signature Series and 2017 commencement concert, create sound escapes for visionary artists such as ‘Safarani Sisters’ and NY based director Kelsey S Brewer, sound design for multiple films, one being Sonia Haddad’s ‘Personal’ which won the ‘Best Boston Short Film 2017’ award and produce music under my own brand and for various vocalists and singer-songwriters.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been ups and downs. There were many times during the beginning that I couldn’t take the struggle and wanted to quit playing the piano but my parents’ guidance and persistence never let it happen.
Being from Iran and with the political climate between the two countries in 2014 and the Iranian currency losing most of its value against dollar, my family and I had been so harshly affected that it was almost impossible to think of finishing and graduating from Berklee. Those were very stressful times and I was certain at some point, that I had no choice but to return home. However, I was so fortunate to receive a lot of support and help from various sources that got me through it all and I graduated right on time.
Lastly, signing up for a career in the entertainment industry makes you encounter a world of opportunities, gigs and at the same time, rejections! But, I believe they are all equally essential to an artist’s growth and success.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about KayHee – what should we know?
Currently, I have invested my focus in electronic and pop music production. I collaborate with various songwriters, vocalists, lyricists and arrangers to write and fully produce tracks for the commercial market.
I also produce and release tracks in various pop and sub electronic genres under my own artist name KayHee. I strive to create music that would either tell a worthy story, get the crowd moving, take the listener on a journey or do all of that at the same time.
Moreover, most of the pop music of today lacks sophistication and color in the hopes of simplifying and reaching broader audience. I aim to retain those qualities in my music while keeping it appeal to the general listener. That’s where my experience as a sound designer and 4 years of studying arrangement techniques, synthesis, rhythm and harmony will greatly come into effect.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe working hard and efficiently is at the very core of it for all sorts of successes. When it comes to being in the music industry, it becomes super important to be approachable, pleasant and meet deadlines.
It also helps immensely to be organized, have short-term and long-term goals, construct daily and weekly strategies and network and build relations. Lastly, the eagerness to be open to experimentation, growing and exploring more, even after you feel like you know all that there is to your related field is what will set you apart from your competitors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kayhee.com
- Email: kayhee.music@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayhee.wav/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayhee.music/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nhmmrrcLzwxc8IdKfKU7g?si=jDXk9-lUTbS5aUECWpdFdg
Image Credit:
Collin Keller Photography, Taiga Kunii Photography
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