The compilation comes out on 20 January and spotlights 12 Iranian women producers.
Iranian artists AIDA and Nesa Azadikhah have curated new non-profit compilation Women, Life, Freedom. The album features original work from 12 different Iranian women artists including SarrSew, MENTRIX and Sharona Lico as well as AIDA and Nesa Azadikhah themselves.
The compilation aims to raise awareness of the plight of women in their home country and is dedicated to the recent uprising of the people in Iran, which has been ongoing since September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. Many of the tracks on the forthcoming compilation directly address or are inspired by the current revolution.
In an accompanying press statement, AIDA and Nesa Azadikhah wrote: “Throughout Iranian history, women have been at the forefront of music and performing arts. However for the past 44 years under the Islamic regime, women in Iran have been banned from singing, dancing, and performance. Facing threats to the safety of themselves and their families, to their career and reputation, female artists are forced to quit, leave Iran, or to go underground facing grave risks. Despite this, Iranian women have remained active and at the forefront of their art, pushing boundaries from Iran and different corners of the world.”
Speaking on the project, they also added: “As a group of Iranian women, this fight is closest to our hearts. We release this collection in solidarity and towards a fight for a free Iran and aim to raise awareness about this revolution through music. The theme of this collection is power, defiance, and ferocity and can be heard across all of the tracks.”
Woman, Life, Freedom will be released via Apranik Records – a new imprint launched by AIDA and Nesa Azadikhah to amplify Iranian artists. Proceeds from the release will be donated to charities supporting struggling women in Iran. The first organisation is an Iranian charity dedicated to helping women and children recovering from domestic violence, addiction, homelessness and societal distress.
Listen to tracks from the release below.
