
On the final day of the Elevate Festival (March 7th, 2026), I had the privilege of attending a workshop led by the renowned composer, performer, and turntablist Mariam Rezaei, alongside my fellow classmates from the Sound Design program. I wanted to write a short blog post about my experience during the session and the insights I gained into this intriguing art form.
Based in the UK, Mariam Rezaei has built an astounding repertoire through her diverse range of performances and compositions, collaborating with artists from all over the world. She has such a unique approach to turntablism and was kind enough to share her insights on the interesting world of vinyl players and record spinning.
I went into the workshop not knowing exactly what to expect and feeling like I knew far too little about the performative art of turntablism. Some of the performances Mariam did were so distinct that they mimicked actual acoustic instruments with total authenticity. This was made apparent when she played a sample of a Japanese wind instrument (likely the shakuhachi). The velocity, tempo, and pitch were all controlled meticulously using only the vinyl player. It became clear that beat matching and pitch matching are second nature to her, developed through an exceptionally trained ear from years of experience.
The immense dedication she has poured into her craft was evident throughout her performances; everything from the hand-eye coordination to her perception of pitch and time was outstanding. The ability to seamlessly switch between tracks and sync them perfectly without breaking a sweat is a skill that is criminally underrated and underappreciated by the general public.
Speaking of which, she briefly discussed the bias turntablists face while performing in orchestras and philharmonics, as many critics still do not classify the turntable as a real instrument. However, she is gradually helping to break this stereotype by demonstrating how valuable and resourceful the turntable is, especially when recreating the textures of specific instruments. She described the experience as blending so seamlessly into an arrangement that listeners are unable to tell if the physical instrument is actually present on stage.
It was also intriguing to see her building on established styles and redefining them as her own. This was evident in the different techniques she demonstrated, from beat juggling to fractured beats; each technique came with her own signature “spin” (no pun intended). She showed us that turntablism isn’t just about playing records, but about deconstructing and reassembling sounds in real-time in the most artistic way.
Overall, the workshop broadened my view of turntablism. It is a demanding, nuanced art form that deserves far more recognition than it currently receives.






















