Liraz Charhi is an Israeli singer and actress of Iranian-Jewish heritage — the star of the spy series ‘Tehran’ — who sings in Persian, the language of her parents' homeland. For her albums ‘Zan’ and ‘Roya’ she collaborated in secret with musicians still living inside Iran, work so dangerous their names were kept off the covers and their faces blurred. When the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising rose in 2022, her songs became part of its soundtrack.
The documented record
- November 2020
Released the Persian album ‘Zan’ (‘Woman’), written and recorded in secret with musicians inside Iran who spoke only through encrypted apps and insisted their names never appear — a collaboration she called the fulfilment of her “biggest dream.”
The Times of Israel - September 2022
As the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising spread after Mahsa Amini's death, her Persian songs accompanied protest videos across Iran; she received clips of women “dancing in underground parties and removing their chador and dancing to these songs.”
The Times of Israel - October 2022
Released ‘Roya,’ recorded in person over ten days with musicians from Tehran in a hidden Istanbul basement studio — their faces blurred and names left off the record — defying the regime's ban on Israeli-Iranian collaboration.
France 24
In their own words
My biggest dream was to write Iranian music with Iranians. Mission accomplished.
Technically, it was very difficult. But emotionally, it was much more difficult. I felt night after night that I was doing a bad thing and these people could be arrested.
Very quickly I received videos of women dancing in underground parties and removing their chador and dancing to these songs.
In their own voice
Liraz - Zan Bezan (official video)Watch on YouTube
Liraz - Roya (Official video)Watch on YouTube
Follow them live
These are daily-active voices — follow them where they publish.
Sources
- 1.The Times of Israel — “Israeli singer to release album of secret collaboration with Iranian artists,” 8 Oct 2020
- 2.The Times of Israel — “Music of Israel's ‘Tehran’ star Liraz Charhi becomes a soundtrack for Iran protests,” 9 Oct 2022
- 3.France 24 — “Singer Liraz brings Israeli, Iranian musicians together – and challenges Tehran regime,” 3 Dec 2022
- 4.Wikipedia — Liraz Charhi (biography)