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  • Iran
  • Joined AFI in 2018
  • Iran
  • Joined AFI in 2018

Musician in Residence, 2019-2020

King Raam is an Iranian musician, storyteller, actor, and a former musician in residence of SHIM:NYC. He started his performing career as the singer/songwriter/founder of Hypernova, a post-punk band born in the undergrounds of Tehran in the early 2000’s. After touring worldwide with Hypernova, Raam began pursuing a solo career under the name of King Raam, acting in film and theater, and developing his solo show “Departure”, a work-in-progress. In January 2018, Raam’s father, Kavous Seyed Emami, an Iranian/Canadian environmentalist, was arrested in Tehran under false charges of espionage. Two weeks later he was killed in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison. When Raam’s family attempted to flee, Raam and his brother could leave, but their mother was held hostage in Iran for 582 days. In “Departure,” a piece developed during his SHIM:NYC residency, Raam tells the story of his family’s experience and his father’s legacy, woven together with his music.

Raam received professional development support through the Joe’s Pub Working Group at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater during his NYCASHRP placement.

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