When Vivian Nouri was born into a Syrian refugee camp, her family’s immediate priority was replacing their home which had been destroyed by a bomb.
Hollywood seemed a long, long way away.
Fast forward to 2017, and now it looks like Tinseltown could become Vivian’s second home.
A life-changing moment for the New Zealand songstress came in the form of a recent call from the music supervisor at Paramount Pictures.
She was asked if she could get to the studio in one hour and record a song that had a shot at getting on the soundtrack for Daddy’s Home 2, starring Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrel and Mel Gibson.
She dropped everything.
Singer Vivian Nouri (pictured) was called by the music manager at Paramount Pictures
He invited her to go to the studio to record a Christmas song for Daddy’s Home 2 telling her she needed to arrive in one hour
The 24-year-old beauty (pictured) recorded a track and was later told her vocals would feature in the film
Nouri knew it isn’t everyday that an opportunity to record a song for a major motion picture comes along.
The stunning 24-year-old told Daily Mail Australia she was delighted just to be given a chance.
‘I was at the gym and the next I get a call from the music supervisor at Paramount Pictures to sing a Christmas song for one of the scenes in the movie,’ she said.
It was Grammy season and she had been approached by Jason Richmond who she had been introduced to earlier in the year.
‘I had met him at a pre-Grammy party and we’ve been friends since then.
‘He called me one morning and knew my vocal range but asked my if I could sing this Christmas song for a movie. I wasn’t going to say no whether I knew how to sing it or not.’
The stunning songwriter’s life began in a refugee camp before her family moved to New Zealand in 1995
Her vocals caught the attention of family before she was scouted at talent quests across Auckland
The catch was that she had to get to the studio in an hour and do the song immediately.
‘I dropped everything and left to the studio. I learned the song on the spot and sang it within an hour and a half.’
The song was recorded at the same studio where Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie recorded ‘We Are The World’.
‘A week later I got an email saying that the song was locked in the movie, and I was in tears.
‘I messaged my mum straight away along with the rest of my family and they were over the moon.’
When Nouri was a baby her parents moved her to New Zealand where she became a New Zealand citizen
It’s been a long road for the Syrian-born beauty whose life began in a refugee camp in 1993.
Her family had fled a civil war in Kurdistan after their home was destroyed by a bomb in 1991.
One of her older sisters needed urgent medical attention and they were granted refugee status in New Zealand.
Nouri and her family arrived to their new home in 1995 and she’s called the country ‘home’ ever since.
‘One of my older sisters needed urgent medical attention and we were granted refugee status in New Zealand. She’s actually a lawyer now. We are all proud kiwis.’
By 10-years-old Nouri was putting herself out there in competitions and was asked to sing for the former Prime Minister John Key
She felt privileged to record in the same studio where Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie recorded ‘We Are The World’
She began singing at the age of nine and her family began to recognise her potential when she received a standing ovation in primary school for her performance of ‘When You Believe’ by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
At the age of 10 she was singing at variety of local events and contests.
In 2009 she won a Five Minutes of Fame competition held in Albany, on Auckland’s North Shore. The organiser invited her to perform for former Prime Minister John Key and other members of parliament at the Style Pasifika Fashion Show.
Since then she has persistently showcased her talent, uploading videos to her YouTube channel and her Facebook page and her Instagram.
‘I have been working with Grammy award winning producer, Brian Kennedy and Davix Foreman – a multi platinum producer/vocal engineer.
She says that singing gives her an opportunity to connect with people all around the world
‘Fortunately I was able to record a number of songs at well known studios in LA meeting a number of big names in the industry such as Fifth Harmony, Skrillex and G-Eazy.’
While in LA she has attended a number of events and met influential people who took her under their wing.
‘What I love about music is the power of it to inspire and bring people together.
‘Emotionally connecting with people all over world is a feeling I will never get used to.’
As well as the likes of G-Eazy, Skrillex and Fifth Harmony the New Zealand-based music maker has rubbed shoulders with a number of music influencers (pictured with T-Pain)
She has recorded more than 10 songs so far and has been writing with Grammy award winning and multi-platinum producers (pictured with James Arthur)