Parisa Shahmir: Stages, Stories and Songs

Written by Mark Johnson

It was back in 2022 when Parisa Shahmir first came on my radar during the UK tour of the musical Fisherman’s Friends based on the Cornish group of fisherman who were talent spotted and chatted their bouy bands rise. In our review of the show I said “the best voices I've ever heard on any stage”. A statement this night further emphasises.

Parisa Shahmir and Frances McNamee.

Fast forward to November 2024 and here Parisa made her Crazy Coqs debut. Showcasing a truly ethereal vocal quality and a remarkable skill for songwriting. Joined on stage by talented musicians Matt Isaac and Natalie Pound.

Opening her set with ‘Move Mountains’, Parisa expressed how she’s been a songwriter for 11 years and how she’s always wanted to do a cabaret performance like this and that now felt the right time. With her warm personality she promised the gathered audience an evening of songs she has written taking us through various genres.

Right from the get go you are drawn to the quality of vocal that Parisa has. Her vocals throughout the evening are gorgeous. Her delivery and musicianship is proof of her world class ability.

Parisa broke the evening down into various sections with the first being a selection of songs from her album‘Working From Home’ where in February 2020 she wrote a song a day. The album gave her a place for her creativity with a stripped back acoustic feel. Sharing ‘Caffeine’ and ‘Waves’ showing her musicality with powerful thoughtful lyrics including “Spending my lifetime riding the waves, Balancing high nights with lonely days, This ebb and flow is natural, So why do I feel so afraid”. There’s a real sense of humanity in these songs. Wrapping up section was ‘And Then Came The Heartache’

The music now moved into more pop sound. ‘Roots’ being a standout song in this section. There’s real emotion in a number about being lost and lonely and wanted to be taken back to her roots. These songs in the section showed how Parisa can nail different genres and sounds in her writing whilst still conveying thoughtful lyrics.

Parisa expressed her many of her songs in the set up to this point have been piano ballads which she confesses that she “likes to write”. Playing one of her own favourites of her tracks the striking ‘I Wanna Know Love’. Another beautiful ballad where both vocally and lyrically it showcases the best of Parisa’s talents. A lovely song.

We then jump into a folk section of numbers. Opening here with ‘Slow Down’ expressing what happens when we’re made to slow down, particularly by the lockdowns, and what that all feels like now.

Parisa Shahmir.

Prior to the next song we are introduced guest vocalist, Frances McNamee. The pair first met on the 2018 tour of Sting’s musical The Last Ship. Having seen Frances’ incredible performance as Elizabeth Laine in The Girl From The North Country I knew just how good her vocals are and how they’d make for a great accompaniment to Parisa’s voice. 

Their first song, a cover of ‘Down To The River To Pray’. The blending of Frances and Parisa’s voice, the harmonies created together are a sweeter sound than any words can do justice for. 

The theme turned back to songs of the sea and Parisa’s time with Fisherman’s Friends The Musical. ‘Keep Hauling’ again allowing for those harmonies together. In the musical Parisa’s number ‘The Tidal Pool’ was picked up by the creative team during the development of the show and given a place in the musical for her character to sing. This number expresses the Alywn’s how the tidal pool ebbs and flows much like the earlier heard ‘Waves’. 

On the tour of she met writer and Fisherman’s Friends manager, Ian Brown, whom together with she wrote an album of songs for Alwyn. This album has never been released and we’re being played live for the first time. These songs flowed like the ocean waves, transporting you to the Cornish seaside and Port Isaac. I hope this album one days get a chance to land as these songs were lovely. Or heck give us a spin off just focusing on Alwyn with these songs! ‘The Other One’ written by Ian Brown showcases what it’s like to be the other person and what’s it’s like and the lonely feelings this can bring. ‘My Mother’s Eyes’ wrapped up this section exquisitely.

The tone switched a lively folk enthused number ‘Goodbye to Heartbreaks and Curtain Calls’ again with Parisa and Frances’s vocals on show. The number expresses the emotions of what it feels like to be an actor on the road and the trails and tribulations of this. ‘Where The Stars Go’ is a heartfelt number about fame and if a star shines too brightly. The number built bewitchingly.

The night segwayed into a musical theatre section. With two covers initially, ‘Flowers’ from Hadestown and an astonishingly good ‘She Used To Be Mine’ from Waitress. The latter was truly a jaw dropping moment of vocal power from Parisa and Frances and easily one the best of many many great versions of this song I’ve heard. It was truly a special moment. 

The final portion of the show focussed on Parisa’s musical Medusa which is currently in development. In fact she only arrived back from the US a couple of days ago where she showcased the show. The musical is a folk inspired which reclaims the narrative of Medusa and gives her the space to be the heroine in her own story. The opening number ‘Watching From The Waves‘ sees Medusa starring out to sea and longing for the Mother she’s never met. The next song is sung by Athena in the show who witnesses something terrible and unjust and deals how she deals with the response she gets from the gods. The final song from the show was was eleven o’clock number ‘Stone Cold’. If these snippets are anything to go by this musical has real potential. Let’s hope it’s not too long before it graces the stage.

Parisa Shahmir and Frances McNamee.

Wrapping up the evening Parisa and co ended on a number written whilst on tour with Fisherman’s Friends when a friend of hers experienced loss and this inspired Parisa to write a song about life.

Parisa is a real star. I reiterate the point made at the top of this post, she has one of the best voices I’ve heard on any stage or recording. I suspect her star will only continue to rise over the next few years be that with Medusa, her own music or a completely different role. It was a beautiful evening in the intimate surroundings of Crazy Coqs allowing the audience to feel a real sense of connection with every lyric and wowing vocal moment. It felt like a special evening shared by all in attendance. Hopefully this isn’t the last of these that Parisa’s does. A real superstar talent.