It’s Thursday, which means we’ll dig deeper into the mind of another contemporary piano composer. This week we’ll get to know the Iranian composer Benyamin Yahyavi a bit better!
Where are you from? And where do you live?
Was born in Romania but my parents are Iranians and I currently live in Tehran.
How long have you been playing the piano, and do you play other instruments as well?
I’ve been playing the piano for about six years and yes, I also play Trumpet and Guitar as my second and third instrument. If we consider a computer as an instrument, i also play computer and digital instruments.
Tell us about how you started playing music.
When I was 13-14 years old, I was very interested in music and listened to different music for hours a day. And finally, one day i accidentally realized that I was playing the piano, so i was very happy to choose music and composing as my first love, as well as my main job. Because i know nothing but writing and making music!
How long have you been making piano music?
About 3 years ago I start writing music.
Tell us something about that moment you realized you could make songs yourself!
I was so happy because finally found a way to convey my feelings to others.
What are your favorite artists in this “piano genre”?
I think my favorites are guys like Ólafur Arnalds, Fabrizio Paterlini. I really like the sadness that is in their works and other favorites that I’ve discovered along the way are Nils Frahm, Max Richter, Dustin O’Halloran.
Is there one song which you play over and over again as soon as you sit down by a piano? Your own or someone else’s?
Maryam, my own song that I love it! It’s very special to me.
What rules (in making music) needs to be broken?
All rules! Because I think music is a way to break the rules, and that’s why it can’t be in prison of rules!
How do you record your music? Yourself? In a big studio? Etc.
I have a small home studio that I do all of my work there. But for my new project it’s possible that I record my strings in a big studio.
Whats your take on sampled instruments?
It’s very simple: VSTs are Good and helpful! The quality of the sound and feel just keeps getting better but live instruments still feel more powerful when playing than VST.
The last question is asked by my 6 year old son:
Where do all your songs come from?
Heart, heart, heart…
Thanks for your participation Benyamin!
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