JUNO-Nominated Composer
Keyan Emami writes music that examines memory, transformation, and cultural synthesis. Utilizing a contemporary palette, his compositions create landscapes of quiet introspection and deep human emotion.
Selected Works
The Black Fish
Nominated for the JUNO Award for Classical Composition of the Year
A 40-minute work inspired by Samad Behrangi’s The Little Black Fish, blending symphonic textures, jazz, and traditional motifs into a cohesive contemporary narrative language
"A multi-stylistic masterpiece..."
— Tiina Kiik, The WholeNote Magazine
Released by: Centrediscs
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify · Bandcamp
Watch: Highlights from The Black Fish Film
Kian in Rainbows
A meditative memorial work where memory, innocence, and transformation unfold through sustained tones and recurring textures
"Gleams with color and texture... lush sounds combine with a dark edge."
— Helen Pridmore, Musicworks Magazine
"Keyan Emami’s music speaks eloquently and poignantly about a subject that eludes rationalization... a remarkable work."
— Victor Lazarov, La Scena Musicale
"A moving musical memorial... evoking the innocence and fleeting beauty of childhood."
— Andrew Timar, The WholeNote Magazine
Released by: Leaf Music
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
5 Pieces for Piano
A cycle of emotive piano works shaped by resilience, transformation, and memory in flux
"Innovative interpretation... redefines conventional norms, offering a fresh perspective."
— Arvin Sedaghatkish, Noise Reviews
Released by: Pardis Records
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Music on the Borderland
A compelling blend of academic inquiry, auto-ethnography, and history. This work illuminates the sociopolitical landscape of Iranian music, charting the profound struggles, resilience, and triumphs of contemporary composers under censorship.
"Written by an artist with direct experience... a highly accomplished doctoral graduate and a Juno-nominated composer to boot."
— Dr. Norbert Palej, University of Toronto
"A revelation of a mind that effortlessly crosses the divide between academic language and powerful prose."
— Christos Hatzis, University of Toronto
"A remarkable contribution... It captures the complexities of artistic expression under political repression... a testament to the enduring power of music and memory."
— Dr. Navid Bargrizan, MELA Notes Journal
Published by: Asemana Books
Read: Book Sample · Lulu · Amazon · Kindle
About
Keyan Emami is a JUNO-nominated Iranian-Canadian composer whose work spans concert, film, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Grounded in themes of memory, resilience, and cultural identity, he holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Toronto and serves as Artistic Director of ICOT Collective and Key Music Productions.