A moment with ‘NIMA Creates’

ABIA meets Melbourne solo violinist and wedding entertainer Nima Alizadeh

All images Georgia Armstrong

It was only when Nima Alizadeh arrived in Melbourne from Iran as a young boy, unable to speak English, that he realised his musical talent gave him a way to connect with people. 

“The violin isn't just a musical instrument for me, it's a powerful tool for me to meet and spark new and amazing connections with people,” Nima explains of the instrument that first helped him break down barriers and now sees him ‘wow’ live audiences across Australia.

The concert performer’s expressive playing and roving presentations make him a standout as a wedding entertainer, who aims to enchant couples and their guests with his solo violin performances.

ABIA sat down with Nima to chat favourite musical moments, quality sound equipment and unlimited musical genres.

Tell us about your wedding entertainment services.

I’m a solo violinist and also happily collaborate with other musicians to provide high-quality wedding entertainment. I started NIMA Creates to blow people away with the intense feelings of passion and pleasure that live violin performances can generate.

I offer a range of wedding music packages to cover every element of a wedding day, from highlights to all-day playing and, as I’m a very expressive player, it’s my aim to create individual, interactive experiences that provide musical memories for couples and their guests.

How did you get started in the wedding industry?

I started out as a concert violinist, and when I began receiving enquiries to play at weddings I was intrigued. I played at a few, found the experiences super-enjoyable and decided wedding entertainment was something I wanted to focus on professionally.

Where are you based and what locations do you service?

I'm based in Melbourne and service the greater Melbourne area and throughout Victoria. I'm also available to travel to Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart.

Do you offer wedding music packages?

Yes, I'm available to be booked for all parts of the wedding day and offer three main packages that cover the ceremony, the reception and a combination of both. I also customise packages for couples who want me to cover the day in its entirety, including canapé hour, or who simply want to highlight moments.

I bring all equipment, including a wireless violin microphone and high-level wireless amplifier, that allows me to bring concert level sound and entertainment to any wedding location or venue.

At what age did you start playing the violin and when did you decide that you wanted to turn your talent into a business?

I began learning the violin in Iran when I was very young. I didn’t love it at first — as a typical boy I was more into sports — but my dad was very persistent. Then, when my family migrated to Australia at the age of five, and I was struggling with learning the language and making friends, my talent for music became a powerful tool for me to meet people and spark new and amazing connections. By the age of 17 I was being paid to play and in recent years I’ve had opportunities to tour around Australia with famous international artists, playing at venues like the Sydney Opera House. All this has made me realise that playing the violin is not only my passion, but my profession, and that’s how NIMA Creates was born. I’m now glad my dad was so insistent!

Do you play any other instruments?

No, I focus solely on the violin.

What genres of music do you play and which are your favourites?

I play all genres of music, but my favourite genre is soundtrack music. I absolutely love movie soundtracks and have a special connection with them, possibly because I also love movies and dabbled in acting, but mostly because they tell an emotional story — I find that very compelling.

Couples often ask if I only play classical music, but there are no limitations to the music styles I can play. There have been times when I've played Beethoven's ‘Romance No 1 in G major’ and the next day my neighbours have woken up to Eminem's ‘Lose Yourself’.

Essentially, I offer to play any song from any genre and any part of the world for my couples and my aural and improvisation skills, coupled with a good level of world music knowledge, allow me to learn and memorise new songs very quickly.

Can you help with song choices for weddings?

Absolutely! Couples often draw on my musical experience and I send them recommendations for appropriate songs for different parts of the wedding day. Some even ask me to choose the best songs for them, and I’m happy to do that too.

What was your favourite performance to date?

My favourite performance so far was with internationally-renowned Iranian artist Alireza Ghorbani at the Sydney Opera House. Ghorbani focuses on fusing traditional Persian music with the modern pop genre and his lyrics are derived from well-known Persian poetry written around 1,500 years ago. Growing up I listened to him endlessly, and being asked to play with him was a dream come true — I teared up on stage the first time we played together.

What should couples look for in a wedding entertainer and how far in advance should they book?

I believe the most important question all couples should ask themselves when considering wedding entertainers and music is, “Does it give me the feeling?”. The ‘feeling’ is something I can't quite explain, it’s a spark or connection with the entertainer, a vibe basically. Couples should look for that ‘gut instinct’ that tells them this is who they want to play at their wedding.

Couples should aim to book me three months in advance ideally, but I take bookings a week prior if I happen to have availability. Couples can just fill in my contact form, then I get in touch with a few questions and confirm my availability and take things from there.

How would you describe the couples you connect with the most?

I connect best with couples who have done their research on my music and know who I am prior to enquiring. They've looked at my website, listened to some of my tracks on major music streaming platforms, watched some of my videos and decided they feel a connection with me. If they look at my content and decide I'm their preferred musician it clearly demonstrates what I can do is meaningful to them and will add value to their wedding.

What makes your wedding entertainment unique?

Most solo violinists within the wedding industry are female, so being a male I stand out from the outset. I'm a very expressive player and bring lots of interactive energy — I go up to people, look them in the eye, establish a connection and personally play for them. I do this for as many people as I can. This creates a ‘back and forth’ dynamic between me and the guests, especially on the dance floor, and generates a positive energy that flows throughout the room.

I'm also very detail oriented and take a very patient and organised approach when it comes to my couples. I ask them questions and get to know them on a personal level. We become friends and this allows me to provide a very tailored service that’s different every time. No wedding is like another for me, just as no love story is like another.

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