Biography
Milad Khawam is a Berlin-based trumpet player, composer, and producer whose artistry is shaped by a rich Damascene, Assyrian, and Armenian heritage. His work serves as a sonic exploration of cultural identity, grounded in classical and Arabic traditions while evolving through crossover jazz and electronic elements to create a deeply emotive musical landscape.
Born in Damascus during the Christmas week of 1992, Khawam’s formal journey began at the Solhi Al-Wadi Institute and later the Higher Institute of Music. He rose to prominence early, performing as principal trumpet with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra and the National Orchestra of Arabic Music. After relocating to Berlin, he quickly became a vital voice in the city’s experimental and global jazz scenes.
His debut album, To The West (2020, XJAZZ Music), was a critical milestone supported by the Goethe-Institut, leading to high-profile interpretations of his work at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW). He followed this in 2023 with Funeral on the Moon, an experimental-electronic jazz record that further cemented his reputation for an unconventional approach to the trumpet.
Khawam’s versatility as a soloist has seen him share the stage with legendary drummer Billy Cobham as part of the Jazzaar Global Ensemble and perform at major European festivals including XJAZZ, Fusion, and CTM. His orchestral reach continues as a soloist with the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, performing at prestigious venues such as the Berliner Philharmoniker. He is also the founder of the FATAT band, a Berlin-based ensemble where trumpet leads over punchy Arabic percussion and bittersweet lyrics to create a danceable yet deeply emotive experience.
In addition to his performance career, Khawam is an accomplished film composer. He composed the original soundtrack for the film Father’s Footsteps (2022) by Mohamad W. Ali, and his work for the short film No Monsters in Berlin contributed to its Grand Jury Prize win at the Cannes Film Festival (Diversity category) in 2017. He also operates Forest Whistle, a Berlin-based studio where he produces, mixes, and masters diverse projects. Through his solo work and collaborative ensembles, Khawam continues to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western musical languages.
He is a primary contributor to several award-winning film projects:
- No Monsters in Berlin (2017): Khawam composed the original soundtrack for this short
- film, which won several honors, including: Grand Jury Prize for Diversity at the Cannes Short Film Showcase.
- Best Film Award at the New York Short Film Festival.
- We Are From There (Loin De Chez Nous): This feature documentary, in which Milad and his brother Jamil are central subjects, received multiple awards:
- “Coup de Coeur Du Jury” prize at the Festival De Cinéma des Cinq Continents
- (F5C) in 2022.
- Best Arab Film Award and Best Non-Fiction Film Award (Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition) at the Cairo International Film Festival.
Milad has been recognized through prestigious commissions, such as being selected by the Pergamon Museumin Berlin to compose a piece for their Abbasid Era collection.