New Single & Music Video
“Serpentwined”
by Taimane
Stream, Save, Playlist or Download Here:
Join me on a journey through mystical worlds…
Hawaiian moʻo wahine Kalamainu‘u and Serpentine goddess Shahmaran emerge in the present at Oʻahu’s Shangri La, reminding us that love, devotion and heartbreak are universal and at times, all powerful.
LYRICS
Click here.
SINGLE
Written by: Taimane at Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design
Produced by: Taimane
Recording & Mix Engineer: Pierre Grill
Recording Studio: Rendez-Vous Recording, Mānoa, Hawaiʻi
Performances: All instruments performed by Taimane
VIDEO
Executive Producer: @hi_shangrila
Produced by: @NMGNetwork
Location: Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design
Florals: @kamailelauliiliico
Makeup: @kecialittman
Hair: @jonahface
During Taimane’s 2024 summer residency at the Doris Duke Foundation’s Shangri La, Taimane immersed herself in the mythology of Shahmaran, the fabled serpent queen of Indo-Iranian and Turkic folklore. As Taimane summoned Shahmaran into the light of today, she recognized a seemingly innate connection with Kalamainu‘u, a Hawaiian mo‘o wahine (lizard woman) who also possesses supernatural powers. Singing the stories of these two, reptilian goddesses, Taimane birthed “Serpentwined,” a mesmerizing new single and music video that bridge these kindred narratives and demonstrate that the power of these ancient legends never fades.
Taimane adds: “Though from distant worlds, the stories of Shahmaran and Kalamainu‘u are intertwined – bound by love, fractured by betrayal, and evoking timeless themes of devotion, heartbreak, and redemption.”
The timing of these releases makes their rebirth at this moment feel eerily inevitable. Taimane, born in the Year of the Snake, released Serpentwined on her birthday, February 13, 2025, the outset of the lunar new year and newest Year of the Snake.
About The Artist-in-Residence program of Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design: Shangri La’s Artist-in-Residence program elevates local and global conversations across various art forms by hosting artists, cultural producers, and thought leaders from around the world each year. The Shangri La Residency Program brings contemporary artists into dialogue with its historic collection, offering a space where the past and present merge to spark new artistic vision. The program also deepens community engagement by hosting gatherings with resident artists and community members and aiding in the creation and publication of new artistic works.
