Kurdish-Iranian musician Kazem Kazemi is one of about 80 refugees holed up in one of Brisbane's worst-kept secrets.

Key points: About 80 refugees are detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel which is being used as an alternative place of detention

About 80 refugees are detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel which is being used as an alternative place of detention The ABC understands previous asylum seekers housed at the hotel include those granted US visas in 2016

The ABC understands previous asylum seekers housed at the hotel include those granted US visas in 2016 Kazem Kazemi says he has been in the hotel for nine months and has had access to musical instruments restricted

The Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, now under constant guard, is what Australian Border Force deems an alternative place of detention (APOD) and has housed refugees for the past 12 months.

Visitors to the city still have the freedom to book motel rooms, but for the mostly male refugee population detained in its serviced apartments, staying there is not a choice.

The ABC understands previous asylum seekers housed at the hotel included those granted US visas in the so-called Obama refugee swap in 2016.

Border Force will not confirm if the hotel is housing refugees. ( ABC News: Rebeka Powell )

Kazemi's journey for a new homeland began in 2013 and was stalled when he was held on Manus Island for six years.

"During that time I lost many things in my life. I lost my health, I lost my passion to my music. I lost my hope," the 36-year-old said.

"It's really difficult to be disappointed every second in your life. I think it's really difficult not to be able to make decisions for your life.

"I got those problems [depression] during offshore detention in Papua New Guinea; finally I could come to Australia because of the medevac bill and my illnesses.

"Unfortunately, I am still in detention after eight months being in Australia with other people who have been transferred to Australia because of the medevac bill."

The laundry room sessions

As a coping mechanism on Manus Island, Kazemi turned to his love of heavy metal music which he would sometimes film and post on social media.

The posts came to the attention of Brisbane-based musician Harry Phillips, who now visits him regularly at Kangaroo Point.

The two finally met in person in Brisbane about five months ago. ( Supplied )

"He is a real lover of heavy metal music, he is a passionate musician, which is kind of what we hit it off over when I first met him," Phillips told ABC Radio Brisbane's Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan.

The two connected over Instagram, where Kazemi would post videos of himself playing music in the Manus Island laundry room.

"His way of staying sane was that he would take his electric guitar and his amplifier which someone had gifted him," Phillips said.

"And he would go into the laundry so he didn't disturb everyone else and he'd just jam on his guitar for hours at a time every day.

"I thought this was the most awesome, most metal, most rock'n'roll music story I think I'd ever heard. "

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 1 m Kazemi uploaded some of his Manus Island laundry sessions to his Instagram page.

After Kazemi arrived in Australia the pair lost contact until about four months ago, when Phillips tracked him down through some mutual contacts.

The duo now have regular jam sessions under the close eye of at least two security guards.

Kazemi's health 'really, really bad'

Phillips said Kazemi's condition had worsened since arriving in Australia and said it was exacerbated by a lack of support.

"Kazem, like a lot of people on Manus Island, he has a lot of issues with mental health because of their situation. He's not a guy who had mental health issues before," he said.

"Music has been his only escape."

But Phillips said the guards and officials at the APOD had stripped Kazemi of his freedom to practise.

"He had his electric guitar and his amp on Manus, but they took it off him and his mental health took a plummet," Phillips said.

"In this new location he fought tooth and nail until they finally allowed him to have the cheap nylon guitar from the rec room, the guitar you see him playing in this video.

"He is not allowed to buy a better guitar, nor can I or any guest bring him a better one."

What it's like inside the hotel

Phillips says security checks require him to turn in all of his belongings. ( ABC News: Rebeka Powell )

Phillips described the security arrangements at the hotel as "extensive", and said he feared that after speaking to the ABC he might never be granted permission to see Kazemi again.

"When you want to go visit somebody, you have to book five days in advance and you have to subject yourself to a federal police check every time," he said.

"When you show up to the compound, they have a security checkpoint on level one where they get you to sign in and they take your wallet and your phone.

"They get a guard to come and escort you up there, and there's two guards in the room at all times. Visiting hours go for an hour and 45 minutes. We've been cut off mid-song before.

"If you want to bring in like a snack to share, you have to declare it five days in advance.

"Also while you're there, you have to wear a fluoro yellow vest which Kazem likes me to take off for our videos."

Phillips says each time he is on the premises, he is required to wear a fluoro vest. ( Supplied )

Border Force would not confirm the hotel was housing refugees but did provide a statement.

"The ABF does not discuss contractual arrangements, individual detention cases or detainee locations for privacy reasons," a spokesperson said.

"Decisions about the most appropriate immigration detention accommodation are determined on a case-by-case basis and involve consideration of the safety and security of detainees, service providers, visitors and staff.

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"In making placement decisions, medical needs are given priority, and family and community links are carefully considered.

"Where appropriate, detainees may be accommodated in hotel/apartment-style APOD accommodation rather than inside an immigration detention facility.

"There are a range of services provided at APODs, including health and welfare services and visits. Detainees accommodated at APODs are able to travel to the closest immigration detention facility on a daily basis to engage in activities, including outdoor activities."