Paramida
Paramida is a German-Iranian music producer, DJ, and record label owner. Based in Berlin, she is a resident DJ at Berghain's Panoramabar and is a travelling DJ. In 2014, she founded electronic music label, Love on the Rocks. Paramida has released two solo EPs. In 2023, she was named one of BBC's 100 Women.
Biography
[edit]Paramida was born in Hesse to Iranian parents.[1] Her mother moved the family to Germany in 2002 to avoid increasing restrictions on women's rights in the country.[2] She credits her mother with cultivating her love of music, preparing mixtapes for her to take to school in her Walkman.[3] In her youth, she preferred punk, Motown and alternative music, only appreciating electronic and dance music later.[4][5] On a trip to Toronto at age 12, she picked up CDs by Laurent Garnier and the First Album, which spurred her interest in the musical genre.[4]
From age 13 to 17, Paramida returned to live and attend school in Tehran.[1] There, she would attend illegal underground parties and where she soon became known for her dancing.[2] After returning permanently to Germany, she lived in Wiesbaden, where she soon discovered the club scene in Frankfurt.[1] She would travel to visit clubs in both Frankfurt and Berlin where she would spend her days and nights dancing and becoming fascinated by the house music.[6] The experiences in both Frankfurt and Berlin's club scenes encouraged her to start DJing.
Since her return to Germany, she has been openly supportive of increasing women's rights in Iran, and critical of the German government's support of the country.[7] In 2023, she was named one of the BBC's 100 Women.[8]
DJ career
[edit]When she first expressed interest in becoming a DJ, she recalls the difficulty in breaking into the scene. "I remember that everyone was laughing at me when I wanted to start DJing… and of course all of them were men."[1] Later she shared,
“You have to work hard as a woman...You have to prove yourself. I’ve been DJing for 15 years. It’s not a short time but sometimes I have male colleagues, who, bless them, they’re talented, but they get opportunities in that first year of touring that I only got after years and years.”[4]
In 2015, Paramida played her first set at Berghain's Panoramabar. In 2020 she became a resident DJ at the club, and also works as a touring DJ.[9][10] She is also a resident DJ at Rinse FM in London[11] and Berlin radio station Refuge Worldwide.[6]
Love on the Rocks
[edit]In 2014 while working in Berlin's OYE Records, Paramida decided to start her own record label, Love on the Rocks as an experiment to explore different types of musical tastes.[6][12] The imprint incorporates varied musical styles and tastes, including Italo, disco to neo Goa trance, with each release presenting something different for listeners.[13]
In 2024 the label celebrated its 10th anniversary by releasing the compilation album, "Sky is the Limit".[14] As of 2024, the label has released 27 records.[15]
Music producer
[edit]In 2020, she began to experiment with developing her own music as a producer.[15] In 2021, Paramida released her first solo EP, "Dream Ritual".[16][17][18] In 2022, she released her second EP on her Love on the Rocks label, ‘Moonrise VII’.[19][20]
See also
[edit]- Nesa Azadikhah, Iranian DJ and music producer
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Artist To Artist: Lena Willikens & Paramida". Ransom Note. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ a b "The Iranian female DJs shaking the dance floor and breaking taboos". BBC News. 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Dazed (2023-07-19). "Dazed Mix: Paramida". Dazed. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ a b c Ross, Annabel (2024-05-08). "Permanent Rotation: Paramida". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Hutchinson, Kate (2016-12-02). "Paramida: 'Notorious BIG reminds me of my childhood'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ a b c "PARAMIDA | A conversation with the Love on the Rocks founder". www.flaunt.com. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Hunstig, Maria (2022-12-19). "Solidarität mit dem Iran: Das wünschen sich diese 8 Frauen der deutschen Kulturlandschaft". Vogue Germany (in German). Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News". News. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "New club Parallel opens in Amsterdam · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Paramida Unveils Her Spellbinding EP, "Moonrise VII"". Wonderland. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Collins, Hattie (2020-05-23). "Everything You Need To Know About Timothée Chalamet's 2020 So Far". British Vogue. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Space Is The Place with Paramida". Ransom Note. 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "The Sound Of: Love On The Rocks". DJ Mag. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Paramida's Love On The Rocks celebrates 10th anniversary with compilation, 'Sky Is The Limit'". DJ Mag. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ a b "Label Focus – PARAMIDA's Love On The Rocks". Juno Daily. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Paramida announces debut solo EP, 'Dream Ritual', on Love On The Rocks". DJ Mag. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Rugoff, Lazlo (2021-08-31). "Paramida fuses "drum workouts" with lush pads on debut EP, Dream Ritual". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Paramida announces debut solo EP, 'Dream Ritual', on Love On The Rocks". DJ Mag. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Panorama Bar resident Paramida announces second EP". Mixmag. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Mullen, Matt (2022-08-12). "Paramida: "Don't overproduce it. The charm is in the rawness"". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2025-03-05.