Sevan Shahmirian: From Underground Rock Gigs to Experimental Electronic Landscapes

In the world of music, the word “underground” is considered by many to be a cliched, overused marketing tool that artists are too quick to use as a descriptor for their paint-by-the-numbers SoundCloud uploads. Rarely do modern independent artists embody the experimental, do-it-yourself aesthetic that characterizes many musicians who have cultivated a small but loyal fanbase outside the fringes of mainstream success. Independent musician Sevan Shahmirian is one artist who embodies the ethos of an “underground” musician in every sense of the word. 

Shahmirian, who is an Armenian born in Iran, co-founded the rock band Wednesday Call with his friend Arin Davidian in 2007. To call the band an underground act would be no metaphor or exaggeration. Since the country experienced a complete cultural transformation as a result of the 1979 Revolution, rock music has become an endangered species in Iran. Rock and roll was officially banned following the revolution, and while the ban was partially lifted later, rock music has still been frowned upon, censored, and threatened at every turn.

Because of the serious restrictions and risks associated with performing rock music live, Shahmirian and Wednesday Call operated under cover of night, with no help from social media to promote their gigs and music. But the strength of Shahmirian’s inspiration ensured that sharing his creative vision through music was inevitable.

“At the age of 16, I became deeply captivated by Pink Floyd,” he remembers. “I was so inspired that I started covering their songs by ear, relying entirely on my listening skills. That experience shaped my emotional and intuitive approach to music.”

Pink Floyd’s influence can be heard in both the psychedelic rock soundscapes inhabited by his earlier work with Wednesday Call and the more atmospheric, cinematic sound of his later work in electronic music. In 2018, when the underground scene in Tehran was no longer friendly to his musical ambitions, he relocated to Armenia. This was the start of a complete creative shift in his music, which led to him fully embracing work as a solo artist in 2020.

Despite many more eyes on his work now, he has still embraced a musical style decidedly outside of the mainstream, which has proven to be both his greatest challenge and reward as an artist.

“My sound is cinematic, emotional, and genre-defying — and in many places, that makes it harder to find listeners, supporters, or collaborators who are open to something outside the mainstream,” he admits. “But despite all of that, I’ve remained fully independent — writing, composing, producing, and promoting my music on my own — because I believe in the worth of what I’m creating, and I’m committed to reaching the audience it’s meant for.”

Shahmirian’s blend of influences from electronic, ambient, and alternative rock music has certainly found its audience, which includes Emmy Award-winning sound editor Arno Stephanian, who praised his music, describing it as “fresh” and “uniquely cinematic.” His single “BUG20” was also featured on the music podcast SceneNoise, which called it “a mesmerizing journey through textured electronic soundscapes.”

Shahmirian’s future goals include having his music featured in film and television productions, performing his music with a symphony orchestra in shared, immersive live experiences, and collaborating with other like-minded musicians. However, it seems his greatest goal is to connect with audiences around the world on a deep, emotional level.

“To me, this journey is more than a career; it’s a calling,” he said. “A mission to turn sound into emotion, and emotion into connection.” 

In the end, Shahmirian’s mission illustrates how labels such as “underground” and “mainstream” are secondary to the connections created through the miracle of music. Through his unique approach to making music, Shahmirian hopes to help more listeners discover the possibilities that occur when emotion transcends the boundaries of musical genres.

His music can be found on Apple music, Spotify and Soundcloud.