MUSIC: The Armenian Mariam Matossian Loves Her Culture In The Music From Her Grandmother And Additional She Has Respect For The World In Her Heart.

Mariam Matossian is an example of the musical treasures that exist in the world next door. Vancouver born and raised, Mariam has been collecting traditional Armenian folk songs and creating her own melodies since she was a child, and initially, mainly singing these songs in her community. Most of the traditional songs that she sings have been passed down through her family - songs that were favourites of her grandmother and her mother, and now they have become her own favourites. With over ten years of training in classical voice, Mariam brings the range and control of a classical singer to the spontaneity and passion of the folk tradition and combines the two to produce a synthesis that has earned her rave reviews from everyone who has heard her.

In 1998, she travelled to Armenia, the first member of her family to set foot in the Homeland. She volunteered for an English language newspaper there and through that work, learned about the plight of the many street children. In 2002, she took a leave of absence from her teaching career to return to Armenia to work with these children. It was during this time that Mariam's passion for singing met her new commitment to bring attention to contemporary Armenia. When she returned to Vancouver, she continued to perform the songs she had learned from her family and songs she had learned in Armenia, including those taught to her by some of the children she had worked with in Yerevan. Those who heard her sing told her she needed to record. In 2004, Mariam released her first album, Far From Home (produced by Adam Popowitz) and began performing with her ensemble which includes accomplished musicians from the jazz and world music scene in Canada. Her debut recording has won rave reviews and has had airplay across Canada and in the United States. It was chosen as one of Echoes 25 Essential Albums for 2005 in the United States.

Mariam's interpretation of Groong/The Crane was featured in Araz Artinian's moving documentary, The Genocide in Me. Currently, Mariam has once again teamed with producer and musician, Adam Popowitz, to work on her second album, In the Light, which will be released in early 2007. And once again a group of amazing musicians that includes Elliot Polsky, Jesse Zubot, Gordon Grdina, Pepe Danza and others has come together to work with Mariam on this new project. Blessed with a beautiful voice and a natural stage presence, Mariam is sharing with the world at large her repertoire which includes her interpretations of the traditional folk songs of Armenia and her own new creations as she and her band are invited to perform at festivals and in concert halls across the country. And in this way, Mariam is delighted that her dream of sharing the beauty and richness of her beloved culture with a world audience is being fulfilled.

Mariam's band is comprised of a group of amazing world and jazz musicans from across North America. These musicians include Elliot Polsky (percussion), Gord Grdina (oud), Adam Popowitz (guitars, mandolin), Nick Apivor (vibraphone, percussion). She has also worked with Jesse Zubot (violin), John Berberian (oud), Francois Houle (clarinet), Ernie Tollar (woodwinds), Pepe Danza (woodwinds), Karen Kocharyan (percussion), Arvin Zaroukyan (bass), and Martin Haroutunian (duduk), among many others.

Many people have been asking where they can find her first album, Far From Home. The best way is to go to www.cdbaby.com/mariamm. Just click on the link and that will take you straight to the page for Far From Home and you can order it there.

A Review of Far From Home

Every so often, an Armenian album comes out of nowhere to impress the listener and leave them wondering, "Where the hell did this come from?" In the case of twentysomething year old schoolteacher Mariam Matossian, the answer is Vancouver, Canada. Far From Home is a collection of 10 Armenian folk songs spread over 13 tracks (the song "Groong" is sung three different times) sung in a very clear, measured, and ultimately sweet innocent style that captures the listener from her first breath. Matossian made the wise decision to work with multi-instrumentalist and producer Adam Popowitz (guitar, mandolin, bass) in creating a dreamlike and very contemporary sound that has an earthy Enya-like feel to the music. Classic songs such as "Shogher Jan" and "Hayastani Aghchigner" are turned upside down with the Popowitz guitar and mandolin arrangements giving Matossian room to wander and breathe new life into songs recorded countless times before. "Mayrigis" and "Hayrenik" are the heavy hitters on this album as the eclectically acoustic based folk band is in full swing with Matossian's supremely focused approach. At times, Matossian's voice seems as though it is as light as air in the beautifully arranged "Oror" and her "Groong" interludes. With Far From Home, Mariam Matossian brings back the element of innocence into the listener's consciousness. While other artists simply hack folk songs to make cash in this marketplace, Mariam Matossian makes you believe every work she is singing. Source: armenianmusicreview.blogspot.com >>>


WebSite: www.mariammatossian.com

MySpace: www.myspace.com/mariammatossian

Khntsori Zarin Dag (Under the Apple Tree), from Mariam Matossian's new album In the Light (2007) [available from www.cdbaby.com/mariamm2 ]. A traditional Armenian folk song, arranged by Mariam Matossian and Adam Popowitz. This love song has been sung in Mariam's family for generations. Mariam added two new verses which emphasize the singer's desire to be with her beloved.

World Discoveries

It's not often that an independent's album songs sounds as good or better than that produced on established record labels - and by 'independent', I mean self-produced; not a small label with fifty artists.

FAR FROM HOME is also unusual in that it's entirely Armenian folk songs, yet doesn't sound like any Armenian music I've ever heard before: previously all Armenian music we were familiar with were sacred chants or oud-dominated dance music known in the West as 'bellydance music'.
Most of our favorite oud players are Armenian so at first we were disappointed, as the guitar is used more than the oud on FAR FROM HOME, and the songs aren't for dancing - but the beauty of FAR FROM HOME shines through and easily overcomes any preset expectations.

Mariam Matossian has a beautiful voice and the original, clever arrangements set off her voice perfectly. Fans of India's Najma, Sheila Chandra, Vass, or Enya will be delighted with FAR FROM HOME's enchanting, professional and haunting vocal style.

Unlike some American and U.K. singers who have come up with a similar (but not exactly the same) sound, the language on FAR FROM HOME is real, and the lyrics hold deep meaning for those who understand the language.

Besides guitar, other non-Armenian instruments are blended in with some Armenian and Middle Eastern instruments: for instance, West African drums like the djembe, some synthesizer, and drum programming are also used - but only in subtle ways. They never get in the way of her voice, or spoil the mood.

I've listened to FAR FROM HOME four times through so far - and it just keeps getting better and better: an exceptional production and a 'must' for any serious collection of Armenian or Middle Eastern music.

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