Parissa Zarifi

Parissa Zarifi and her Middlesbrough roots

Parissa Zarifi is a Middlesbrough-born singer-songwriter and violinist making alternative folk with an atmospheric, often ethereal edge. Her music is built around a combination of acoustic songwriting, poetic lyrics and melodic violin improvisation, giving the songs a sound that feels intimate without being slight. There is a strong emotional pull to her work, but the arrangements leave enough space for the words and instrumental details to breathe.

Zarifi’s Teesside roots remain an important part of her story. Her recorded work has been developed in and around Middlesbrough, including sessions at Loco Studios, while her live appearances place her firmly within the wider North East folk and alternative circuit. That regional connection gives the project a clear sense of identity even when the songs themselves move into more universal territory around relationships, recovery, freedom and self-belief.

Sing For My Soul and an evolving folk sound

Her 2024 album Sing For My Soul brought together many of the qualities that define her music. Written and performed by Zarifi, the record leans into haunting vocals, acoustic textures and violin lines that shift between accompaniment and a more expressive lead role. Tracks such as Free Of You explore difficult emotional experiences without overplaying them, while the title track carries a broader sense of release and self-determination.

The album followed earlier work including the Written In The Sand EP and showed a songwriter becoming increasingly comfortable with restraint. Rather than filling every space, Zarifi allows the violin and voice to carry much of the atmosphere. That approach gives her songs a slightly cinematic quality while keeping them rooted in folk storytelling.

Parissa Zarifi on the North East live circuit

Live performance has helped Zarifi build a place within the region’s grassroots scene, with appearances across Teesside and Newcastle. SoundBite North East has featured her through Aelius Alternative Festival coverage, adding her to a line-up that brought together a broad selection of independent North East artists and venues.

What makes Zarifi stand out is the balance between traditional singer-songwriter craft and the more atmospheric role of the violin. The songs never feel like folk by numbers. Instead, they draw on the form while leaving room for something more personal and contemporary. With Middlesbrough roots, a growing catalogue and a distinctive instrumental voice, Parissa Zarifi is a strong fit for the current North East alternative-folk landscape.