As the fallout of Donald Trump's travel ban continues to be felt around the world, it is also having an unprecedented impact on American arts and culture.

Although the ban is temporarily lifted, musician Raam has been forced to cancel his appearance at the international music and media festival South by Southwest (SXSW) to be held this March in Austin, Texas.

Raam, who lives in Iran, was due to perform with Hypernova, an underground punk band that previously appeared at the festival in 2000 and 2008.

But he said confusion around the ban meant he did not want to take any chances in the US, and will instead look elsewhere for tour opportunities.

"It was really exciting moment for us to finally be part of something that stands for inclusivity and acceptance and giving a different taste of music from all around the world," he said.

"After this whole up and down process it's been, 'What do we do?' Because one of my best friends was held, detained for 48 hours at JFK [airport].

"The whole ordeal was just unexpectedly so horrifying to go through all of that."

Raam said the ban was frustrating for people of colour like himself.

"A lot of people [are] privileged and don't have to be bothered because of the colour of their skin," he said.

"For a lot of us Middle Easterners who, regardless of if we're religious or not, or whatever personal beliefs we have, the sort of discriminations they come against us."

Travel ban a loss to American music culture

For Raam, banning Iranians from entering America is more of a loss for the United States than for Iranians, who would be contributing to the American dream.

"It's unfortunate because Iranians for example are one of the wealthiest groups of immigrants in the United States and they consist of a large swathe of people in technology, in medical fields, in business and law," he said.

Mr Emami's solo venture is gaining popularity in his home country of Iran. ( Instagram: Raam Emami )

"You're alienating all these people, these Silicon Valley billionaires, NASA scientists, doctors and lawyers — why would you want to do that?"

But now with immigration from Iran to America in question, Raam sees the American dream on its knees.

"The way things are going right now, if you're not part of a certain privileged group of people, it feels much more difficult to realise that dream," he said.

Since spending more time in Iran, Raam's solo music venture under the name of King Raam has been gaining popularity.

Even though it is not the same scene in New York or Los Angeles, he said it is just as important to him.

"I have a pretty huge following over here in Iran [but] I was just another hipster lost in a sea of hipsters when I was in New York," he said.

"Going back home I feel like, as small as it is, I'm contributing to the musical scene and that's a wonderful feeling to be a part of."