Shaparak "Shap" Malek-Morvai

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Shaparak “Shap” Malek-Morvai, and I’m the founder and creative director of Lhyme, a Nashville-based platform that brings music, food, and storytelling together.

I was born in Montpellier, France, and moved to Nashville right before my fifth birthday. When I first moved here, I only spoke French and Farsi. I come from an Iraqi Kurdish and Persian background, so growing up with different cultures, languages, and traditions has always been a big part of my life.

Nashville has been home for most of my life, and music has always been something I’ve loved. With Lhyme, I’ve found a way to bring together my love for music, food, and connecting with people while giving independent artists a space to share their stories.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

One of my favorite things about Nashville is its amazing immigrant food scene. We have so many incredible local chefs and family-owned businesses serving authentic food from practically every corner of the world. I love that you can experience so many different cultures through food without ever leaving the city. Nashville is also home to the largest Kurdish community in the U.S., so we’re lucky to have some outstanding options for traditional Kurdish food as well. That’s something I especially love because of my own Kurdish roots.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

I’ve always loved discovering independent artists, and food has always been another big passion of mine. To me, music and food have so much in common. They bring people together, introduce us to different cultures, and tell stories. That’s really where the idea for Lhyme came from. I wanted to find a way to bring those two worlds together while helping independent artists share their music with new audiences.

Lhyme is a Nashville-based creative platform that brings together music, food, and storytelling. Even the name has a personal connection to my background. It’s a combination of limoo amani, the Persian dried lime, and the word rhyme.

Through Lhyme, I sit down with independent artists to learn about who they are beyond their music. We talk about their experiences, influences, and what inspires them. From there, I create an original recipe inspired by their sound, personality, or cultural background. It’s a fun way for readers to discover new music while connecting with an artist through food.

We’ve also expanded into Lhyme Mixtapes, cassette-inspired recipe boxes featuring a four-course menu, original artwork, and a curated playlist of independent artists. It’s an experience people can bring into their own homes, whether they’re cooking for themselves or sharing a meal with friends. What’s especially important to me is that these mixtapes also help support the artists. Each playlist connects listeners directly to the artists’ streaming profiles on Spotify, Tidal, or Apple Music, making it easy to discover, follow, and support their music.

At the heart of it all, Lhyme is about connection and community. I love the idea that someone might make one of our recipes and end up discovering their new favorite musician in the process. That’s exactly the kind of experience I wanted to create!

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My biggest advice is to just do it! Don’t wait for everything to be perfect because the reality is, so much will change and evolve along the way. You’ll learn as you grow, and sometimes the best lessons come from simply putting yourself out there and figuring things out as you go.

I think analysis paralysis is one of the biggest things that can hold someone back from starting a business. Of course, it’s important to consider the risks and opportunities, but don’t overthink things to the point where you talk yourself out of something you really believe in. You don’t have to have everything figured out from day one. Sometimes you just have to take that first step and trust yourself enough to keep going.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

I always love hearing artists tell me how much fun they had during our interview, especially when they say it was the most fun they’ve ever had doing one! That means a lot to me because I want it to feel more like a conversation than an interview.

I also love hearing from customers about how much they love our T-shirt designs or the message behind each mixtape. It’s always exciting to know that something we’ve created connects with people in a meaningful way. That’s what makes it all worth it!

Where do you see your company in the future?

I would love to see Lhyme continue to grow and reach more and more independent artists around the world! We’ve already had the opportunity to connect with artists across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and I want to keep expanding that reach.

I’d also love to create more mixtapes, introduce more artist-inspired merchandise, and eventually host live events that bring together artist interviews, music, and food experiences. I think that would be so much fun!

At the end of the day, I just want to keep discovering amazing independent artists, sharing their stories, and creating fun recipes inspired by their music. There’s so much talent out there, and I’m excited to see where Lhyme goes next!

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that it’s easy to put out music and be a creative. People don’t always see how much work goes on behind the scenes. So many independent artists face challenges, overcome adversity, and continue to hustle just to get their music heard. There’s so much talent out there, but talent alone doesn’t always get you noticed. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and persistence. That’s one of the reasons I love what I do with Lhyme. Being able to give these artists another platform to share their music and stories means a lot to me.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

I think one of my biggest struggles has been building an audience while also establishing credibility with artists, especially when trying to connect with more established names. It takes time to build those relationships and earn people’s trust. I’ve really just focused on being consistent, putting in the work, and letting each interview and experience help open the door to the next opportunity.

It’s definitely been a journey, but I’m really proud of how much Lhyme has grown and continues to evolve. I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned is to be patient with the process and celebrate the little wins along the way!

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

As a little girl, I absolutely loved Cyndi Lauper. I thought she was so beautiful, colorful, and fun. I also loved Etta James. I remember looking through my parents’ vinyl records while listening to her music and being so intrigued by her beauty and incredible voice. As I got older, I fell in love with artists like the Indigo Girls, Mariah Carey, and The Cranberries. I definitely had a mix of musical influences growing up.

As for athletes, my favorites were Andre Agassi and Ronaldo. I loved watching both of them play!

Any shoutouts you want to make?

A huge shoutout to my husband and son, my two biggest supporters! They’ve been cheering me on every step of the way, and I’m so grateful for their endless love, encouragement, and belief in me. I couldn’t do this without them.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can follow Lhyme on Instagram at @lhymefoodfusion or visit our website at Lhyme.com to learn more, discover amazing independent artists, and check out our latest mixtapes and merchandise.