22 year-old Shiraz is an artist of Iranian origin based in Portsmouth UK. He started making music at the age of 14, but being in a religious household, he was kept away from learning any instruments and pushed towards making acapella Islamic music. Shiraz got to grips with a lot of software and made many friends in the Persian music industry, but he rarely listened to Persian music.
In university he fell in love with hip-hop and started experimenting with it. On discovering his style, it was clear to him that he loved melodies which led to Shiraz doing plenty of choruses, and so PaPa Shiraz was born.
PaPa Shiraz has now collected the best 22 songs out of his 3 year
university experience and put it into a project entitled “To22.”
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I grew up in Tehran, ever since I was a baby I knew I wanted to be on a stage one day. I used wear my little blazer, pretend my milk bottle was the mic and sing jiberish in front of the mirror for hours! (according to my ma obviously)
We moved to London when I was still a kid and I was exposed to more and more music !
My family introduced me to religious music as a teen, I was pushed away from learning any actual music theory or instruments (im proud to be from a proper religious family tho)
I discovered hip-hop in university and it went from there really! I got pushed on doing hooks cos i was good with melodies and before I knew it I was a singer !
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Get a bar job, or event job or something like that! It pays studio money, gets you friendly with your local dj’s and gives you loads of opportunities to plug yourself locally!
Also the internet is a place full of ideas for promo, check out places like fiverr for loads of marketing strategies!
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
yea all the time, i just freestyle new lyrics and change the song till it fits again!
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
just saying, kids… don’t do drugs
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
I barely record at home, I had loads of sessions in tehran and london for this last project! I think when i leave my home studio I get a urge t be more serious!!
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
hopefully this interview!! I’d say don’t spam your friends… let em naturally realise your music is awesome and build on that community!
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
hands down, Snoop Dogg! He probably has the best kush on him and he does his thing on any music!
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
I’m releasing my debut EP this month, To22VOL1:UP ! It’s got 14 tracks, it’s full of uplifting high spacey music really! It’s got a couple trappy songs, couple EDM stuff and all kinds of sounds but it also somehow fits together! we’ve released 3 singles from it already! y’all shall check em out!
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
I already do other stuff! I’d always advice against just doin music, so hard to milk money out of music. i study engineering and manage a shisha bar!
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
To22VOL1:UP
To22VOL2: Righteous
To22Vol3: Get DOWN
To22VOL4: Left-overs
If i don’t make it after 4 EP’s in a year imma just give up ha! I’m kiddin! but loads and loads of music!!
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
my first band-mates Libau and Gray-de A helped me find my sound! My producers, MoneyMo, Aliman and AHA! Really we’re all a family in Suits Records! squad is strong fam!
My sister! my dad and his wife, my mum and the triplets! and … God! S/O to GOD for sure
