Mariam Matossian
Mariam Matossian is a Canadian-born, Armenian musician.
Matossian was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award (Outstanding World Music Album of the Year for her album In the Light) and two Canadian Folk Music Awards (Traditional Album of the Year for In the Light and Best New/Emerging Artist) in 2008. Vancouver born and raised, Matossian has been collecting traditional Armenian folk songs and creating her own melodies since she was a child and initially, singing them mainly in her community. Most of the traditional songs she sings have been passed down through her family – songs that have been favourites of her grandmother and her mother, and now they have become part of her repertoire.
Armenian roots
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. 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.
Recordings and recognition
In 2004, Matossian released her first CD, Far From Home 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, in the United States and Europe. It was chosen as one of Echoes 25 Essential Albums for 2005 in the United States on NPR. Matossian’s interpretation of Groong/The Crane was also featured in Canadian-Armenian filmmaker, Araz Artinian’s moving documentary, The Genocide in Me, about the Armenian Genocide of 1915, which Matossian’s grandparents survived as children.
In 2007, Matossian released her second album, In the Light: a combination of her interpretations of traditional Armenian folk songs and her own original compositions. This album has enjoyed airplay across Canada, the US, Europe, the Middle East and has been on independent music charts in Canada.
Collaborations
The rich music traditions of her Armenian heritage are finding a new and appreciative audience. Mariam has been featured on CBC Radio and Radio Canada many times and her concerts have been recorded by the CBC and broadcast nationally across Canada. She has performed with acclaimed Canadian musicians such as Ernie Tollar, Francois Houle, Andre Thibault, and Catherine Potter, in addition to Elliot Polsky on percussion, Gordon Grdina on oud, Jesse Zubot on violin, Pepe Danza on flutes, Adam Popowitz on mandolin and banjitar, and Martin Haroutunian on duduk. She has also performed with master oud player John Berberian. In the US, where she now lives, Mariam’s band is comprised of the highly talented members of the instrumental world fusion group Free Planet Radio, which includes River Guerguerian (percussion), Chris Rosser (cumbus, guitar) and multiple Grammy award winner, Eliot Wadopian (acoustic bass).