Selecting Jazz vinyls for gigs in the morning, directing videographers and artists for music videos during the day, designing vinyl covers and event posters at night. Parissa Charghi’s work life is dynamic, maybe even chaotic but a vibrant blend of creativity for sure. When she doesn’t spend quality time with her family, which is her most precious time, she’s busy fostering a collaborative space for alternative artists and talented individuals through her brand, Heavy Feelings, in Cologne.
As the founder of Heavy Feelings and with over 15 years of experience in the music industry, her enduring vision has always been to unite people in creating authentic music and art, beyond the mainstream, always emphasizing community and mutual care.
In an interview, that feels like a pillow talk between comrades, she talks about her creative process and the founding of Heavy Feelings while navigating the challenges of the music industry and personal growth. She reflects on her cultural influences, the transformative power of music, and her desire for a more thoughtful, slower cultural pace that prioritizes quality and genuine connections.
Jenni is a German American DJ and founder of the Frankfurt-based collective GG Vybe, self-described as the „Queen of random rap adlibs.“ As an absolute music nerd, her selections and productions span Soul and Hip-Hop.
Parissa and Jenni first met at a Heavy Feelings event in Cologne featuring producer K, Le Maestro, and Jenni later began recording mixes for Heavy Feelings. They bonded deeply during their time together in the UK. For their latest chat, they met at Parissa’s place.
How is your year going so far, how are you doing in 2024?
I'm doing well. I've done a lot, I've initiated a lot of collaborations that have been very meaningful for me personally. We were in Hamburg with Persian Empire and did a residency there for the first time. A four day sampling residency at a Vinyl Archive in a Museum. Putting a hub together, working with Tano Jackson from SuperJazzClub on a special project and much more. People who joined us, who made the whole concept of Heavy Feelings bigger & more meaningful.
What does HVY FEELINGS mean to you, what is the origin of this term? What was the idea behind it?
The name itself came to me three or four years ago when I was in Berlin. That was a very stressful phase for me. That's when I realised that this is actually me, HVY FEELINGS. For me it is the epitome of the essence of what I am and create as an artist, what defines me! But what everyone else is also entitled to in the context of music, creativity and life.
You wanted to create a space?
Exactly!
What was your vision for this space?
The vision was first of all to build my own table with things that I want to do myself, because after so many years of being self-employed as a creative, especially in the music industry, I realised that I was always limited and dependent on others. For me, it's what I do, whether it's designing or curating HVY FEELINGS. It's like a vocation and bringing my own taste and ethics to life. I have the vision of bringing people together. I know a lot of people and I know how to connect the dots. Understanding where and how you can use this match, having a lead in order to see the potential and be able to utilise it. To open up the space for talented people who are very authentic in what they do.
When you set up a circle like this, it's primarily because something like this doesn't exist yet and you have created a space for people who get little or no spotlight and get lost in the crowd.
Yes, getting lost in the crowd, but also curating yourself according to your own taste and disregarding the Zeitgeist. Not looking at what's left and right but rather in the sense of deceleration (and focus). Finding quality-based people who can also play a lasting role for HF and also for the outside world.
HVY feelings is more than "just" an event. It is a movement. Can you explain what kind of movement it is?
For me, of course, it involves independent production. To create with people I admire. The collective work and creation of a common sense but all under the aspect of LOVE. I believe in the power of collective effort and learning from each other's strengths and skills. It's important to consider how we treat one another and how we can care for each other. Are others still connected with one another? Do they also actively look after each other?
Very nicely described. UNITY!
»Working collectively and learning from each other — it´s a different kind of power!«
No matter where you come from, what background you have, what you look like. The only thing that matters to me is the quality of your work, the human touch and your state of mind.
Of course, there's a lot of trust behind that. Trust is often more of a negative portrayal but for me trust is also giving up responsibility. Which is nice, because responsibility gets you from A to B faster.
You also have to bear in mind the other perspective. In the moment you give trust to a person, they feel valued naturally, in what they do. That's a different kind of energy when you realise "Hey, am I doing this right, with what I'm contributing here." There is also a difference between naivety and intuition. You are here, you want to interview me. Because we have established a connection that is is different.
You work with a lot of individual souls and that's not easy in principle because everyone has their own story, everyone has a different background, which I like but that doesn't make it easy because everyone has learnt a different form of communication. What is something you have learnt over the last few years?
Definitely to practice patience. I'm a very impatient person. I want to push a lot of things forward. But I also know that a standard simply needs time. Quality can only be achieved if you take the time for it. We live in a time where everything is very fast and a lot of quantity is simply gets out of hand. In relation to others, it's important to see that everyone has their own reality of life. Everyone has their own struggle and heavy baggage. Especially as an artist cause you use your art as a filter. It´s important to recognize that this is not my responsibility. What I can do is extract the essence out of it. I'm not responsible for being your savior but I am here and I can accompany you on the way. I can make sure that we create something beautiful together. I believe in genuine communication and speaking the truth, that´s UNITY!
How do you keep the focus? You just said that you have a vision. How do do you stay focussed in order for everything not to fall apart?
That is learning. A lot of mental balancing. It has a lot to do with control over your mind. That's very difficult, especially at the moment. Where we are all so hardcore saturated with blatant things. Whether it's news, war, politics, and social media. Everything is at its peak. Balancing what I do, the many people involved, and maintaining my independence—especially as a woman and mother in this industry—requires a lot of self-discipline and self-love. It's a challenging exercise.
Absolutely, we have so many external influences. Everything is very fast-moving. I have the impression that you have a portfolio and you follow the path because you trust yourself and your intuition. What is your drive?
My aim is to touch people's souls through interaction. I don't like using the word 'experience' because it feels overused and lifeless. Ultimately, I want people to encounter something different from their everyday lives and the influences they're used to. My motivation also comes from my curiosity. I want to keep learning and trying new things I haven't done before. As a creative spirit, I believe I'm entitled to that.
To stay inspired?
To stay inspired and inspire others.
When did you fall in love with music?
I think that has a lot to do with my persian roots and how I grew up as a child in my culture. Our house was always full of people and a lot of art. In the sense of persian poetry and music. Whether it was traditional or dance music. There was always singing, playing instruments and dancing. I was always surrounded by a lot of music and because I have two older sisters and grew up in the 80s. And therefore have a completely different relationship to music that was everlasting. It was a different time in which music was and how music was produced. So you waited many years until someone dropped an album. But then it was THE ALBUM! And...MTV, for sure. Whether it was music videos like Queen Latifah's 'UNITY,' which I remember well, or the entire hip hop and R&B era from the early 90s, those videos were something different! They made you feel like you were part of something, even if you weren't in the U.S. and didn't share those life experiences. Through the visuals and language, you could understand what might be happening, even if your own reality was different.
Do you have a track that's stuck in your head that you remember exactly when you first heard it and what emotions it triggered?
I think it was Purple Rain by Prince. My older sister was a huge Prince fan. When I saw Purple Rain for the first time, I was very young and didn't really realize it yet. What a rad person that was! And he just came along with a whole 2 hours movie to the same titled song and album. That was huge in 1984. The fascinating thing about Prince was that he was this fluid person and artist who uncompromisingly did his own thing regardless of the consequences. A blatant musical genius. His whole being a rebellious act. That made an impression and impact on me back then till now.
How has music culture changed for you? Through streaming we are in a complete overload! But especially as a music selector, you also have a different kind of power and intensity in selecting music. I've asked myself several times, how does she find these tracks?
»Music is a spiritual thing, you dont play with music.«
I really like to dig records unless I have something specific on the screen that I really want to get. These are more like classics that I definitely need in my collection. I find that very difficult, although that's an important question. Because I'm bored for the most part. Generally it’s not easy to impress me. Whether it's design, music or arts in general. Because I can no longer differentiate. I can't keep up with all new releases. A lot of it sounds the same to me, a lot of it is very superficial. I miss a lot of substance. A full body of work. People used to spend many years on an album back in the days and the industry changed cause you have to produce and showcase yourself constantly. The use of music today is also different because access to it is easier. So we suddenly have a new DJ in every corner, which is good in and of itself, but the origin and therefore the approach changes and loses value in my eyes. Sometimes I get the impression that music is being misused for personal purposes because of the abundance. Music is spiritual for me. So selecting is very emotionally driven for me. And it's expensive to buy records, you have to think about it twice, which one you're going to take with you.
If you go into a record shop now, some people look at the the cover, some look at the names. Do you look at the collabos? When do you decide to listen to or buy the record again?
Of course, a lot of my work is about artwork. I also have an occupational disease when it comes to vinyl artwork.
To what extent do music and community flow together for you?
I believe what ultimately makes music so universal is its emotional impact. The intense feelings it evokes resonate with everyone in unique yet similar ways. Celebrating something that moves you, together with others, brings a different dimension to the experience compared to enjoying it alone.
Do you have an artist or genre that you feel embraced by? That radiates warmth for you. Songs that you listen to when you're feeling down to make you feel better?
Definitely Reggae and Jamaican rooted music. But I don't like to reduce myself to one genre. Of course I draw a lot from jazz, soul and hip hop. Bob Marley as the whole person he was. It's always difficult to name such legends. But Bob Marley was always someone who spoke the truth. His lyrics as well as his views are still relevant today and timelessly reflect our society and life as a human being. In his very simple way, very spiritual through and with music.
What do you wish for yourself and also for the culture for the future, what is your vision?
I wish for culture to slow down. Above all, I wish culture a mindset that doesn't aim for higher, faster in the sense of we're doing the live stream now, with 300 casted people. Let's do some real shit. I want to see authenticity. I want people to think along with me and ask themselves out "do I have to do all this, what can I do differently?" And of course: Everything is black culture: from Hip Hop, Jazz, House, Techno etc. Bring the people here! And not as a political agenda but check out who are the people out there who don't have their 100K followers. Who aren't booked 50 times in a row. And actually also to open entrances, rooms! Gatekeeping is a blatant thing in Germany. Especially as a woman. I would like to see access made easier. To be more open. Sharing of knowledge, mindfulness and consistency!
Well said. How important company is. Having a tribe right?
Absolutely.
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