Shida Shahabi: Bridging Electronic and Classical Music
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Shida Shahabi’s compositions stand out as a hypnotic blend of expansive piano and cello sounds, paired with textured drones. This distinct style contrasts sharply with her upbringing in Stockholm during the ’90s, where she was surrounded by Persian pop, punk, and grunge due to her Iranian heritage.
As Shahabi matured, her musical influences evolved, drawing inspiration from iconic bands like The Cure, Cocteau Twins, and My Bloody Valentine. Her debut album in 2018, “Homes,” was met with critical acclaim, highlighting her as ‘a bold new voice’. Today, Shahabi’s music is characterized by its stripped-back nature, a quality reflected in her minimal studio setup.
According to Shahabi, the key to musical success might just be a matter of flexing our ‘finishing muscle’ a bit more. She emphasizes the joy of embracing the unknown in music, stating, “that vagueness can sometimes surprise you. I appreciate it when I don’t entirely know where it is heading…”
Born and raised in Stockholm, Shahabi’s journey into music began with singing and playing the piano and keyboards around the age of nine. A gift from her aunt, a Yamaha keyboard, became a pivotal point in nurturing her passion for music. As she entered her teens, Shahabi developed a strong inclination towards music exploration, attending concerts, searching for records, and creating mixtapes.
At around 20, Shahabi began collaborating with other musicians mostly for fun, but it wasn’t until she turned 24 that she started to see music as a viable career. Today, as she approaches her mid-thirties, she remains dedicated to her craft, hopeful for what the future holds.
Shahabi attributes her success to her transition into freelancing a decade ago, which allowed her the space to refine her craft. She engaged in commission work for theatre and dance, focusing on practical collaborations and setting self-doubt aside.
Shahabi finds it challenging to define her musical philosophy succinctly. However, she values curiosity, playfulness, and spontaneity. For her, the beauty lies in the process, especially when she isn’t entirely certain of the direction it’s taking. This unpredictability often leads to pleasant surprises in the final output.
Her introduction to computer music-making was during her time in art school. This revelation altered her perspective on sound manipulation. With digital tools, she found new ways to produce and tweak sound, allowing her to achieve effects previously unattainable.
Shahabi has a preference for a minimalistic studio, believing that too much equipment can be a distraction. Her studio boasts classic equipment like the Roland Juno-60, Korg Poly 800, Yamaha CS-01, a 120-year-old Malmsjö piano, and a Roland RE-501 tape echo.
She has a penchant for specific plugins that offer a particular touch to her productions. Kush Audio’s Electra DSP EQ, the software version of Pultec EQP1A, Wavesfactory Cassette, iZotope RX 10, and Soundtoys EchoBoy are among her favorites.
Shida Shahabi’s recent album “Living Circle” was a collaborative effort with Hampus Norén. The duo’s dynamic was balanced, with their differences proving beneficial in the studio environment. Norén also plays in the live setup for “Living Circle.” The album also featured talents like Linnea Olsson, Gus Loxbo, Julia Ringdahl, Nina Kinert, and Sara Parkman.
Shahabi’s approach to starting a track varies. Sometimes it’s a melodic phrase, a drone, or even a field recording. The key to finishing a track, she believes, is developing an intuition over time and not getting too caught up in the details.
As for the future, Shahabi is gearing up for more European shows this fall and is looking forward to working on new material. Her live sets will now feature a trio on stage, and she plans to collaborate with local vocal ensembles during her “Living Circle” performances.
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