News
10 October 2026 – Maryos Syawish Announces Qurmami and Reconstructs His Chaldean Iraqi Heritage Through Sound
By Editorial Team - October 10, 2026
Summary
Melbourne composer Maryos Syawish announces Qurmami on Research Records, combining northern Iraqi heritage, field recordings, and dub electronics.
Key Facts
- Melbourne sound artist Maryos Syawish announces debut solo LP Qurmami arriving November 13 via Research Records.
- Developed over eight years incorporating field recordings from Iraq, dub basslines, and Chaldean heritage.
- Features collaborations with Khaled Kurbeh and cellist Abby Sundborn.
- Entities: Maryos Syawish, Qurmami, Research Records, Sleep D, Butter Sessions, Khaled Kurbeh, Abby Sundborn, Sarah Ujmaia, Melbourne, Iraq
- Tags: maryos-syawish, qurmami, research-records, sleep-d, butter-sessions, ambient, electronic, melbourne, iraq
Melbourne-based composer and sound artist Maryos Syawish has announced debut solo album Qurmami, arriving November 13 through Research Records. The title translates as my roots, reflecting a project that examines the relationship between his Australian upbringing and Chaldean Assyrian heritage. Syawish is already known for his work with electronic project Sleep D and his involvement in the independent Butter Sessions label, but Qurmami represents his first full-length release under his own name.
Developed over approximately eight years, the album incorporates field recordings collected during a visit to Iraq alongside ambient electronics, dub influences and musical traditions associated with northern Iraq. The eight-track collection includes "Mother Tongue," "Ancient Memories," "Identity Crisis" and "Eternal Battle," with contributions from Khaled Kurbeh and cellist Abby Sundborn. Syawish's cousin Sarah Ujmaia created the artwork, adding another personal connection to the project.
Lead single "Original People" introduces the album's approach to combining recorded environments with musical composition in ambient music and electronic sound design. Qurmami is particularly interesting because it treats cultural identity as something experienced through sound rather than merely described through lyrics. Syawish contributes a deeply personal perspective to modern diaspora storytelling.