The 25 Most Influential People in Music In 2025
For SPIN‘s “The 25 Most Influential People in Music in 2025” write-up on Toomaj Salehi: The 25 Most Influential People in Music In 2025 Here are the activists, pop stars, producers, scholars, … Continue reading
The Land of the Not Free
Feature on freedom of speech and musicians in Iran for SPIN September 2024 Issue: The Land of the Not Free In the US we take freedom of speech for granted. … Continue reading
Can Rap save Iran?
Filmmaker Omid Mirnour interviewed about his documentary Rap and Revolution Iran for Book and Film Globe: Can Rap save Iran? A new documentary highlights the constant oppression that brave Iranian rappers face … Continue reading
Peter Gabriel on Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi: ‘This is Barbaric and Must Stop’
Feature on how creatives in the West are joining forces to save dissident Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi‘s life for SPIN: Peter Gabriel on Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi: ‘This is Barbaric … Continue reading
Mina Alikhani Represents the Islamic Republic’s Capital Offense of “Crimes Against God” Using the Female Form
Iranian American visual artist Mina Alikhani interviewed ahead of her exhibition Crimes Against God for Fine Art Globe: Mina Alikhani Represents the Islamic Republic’s Capital Offense of “Crimes Against God” Using … Continue reading
Relatives and Associates of Toomaj Salehi, Iranian Rapper Sentenced to Death, Speak Up: ‘He Has Been Condemned to Death for His Music’
Feature on the imprisonment and death sentence of dissident Iranian rapper, Toomaj Salehi, with input from his family and friends for Variety: Relatives and Associates of Toomaj Salehi, Iranian Rapper … Continue reading
“A Revolution On Canvas”—a daughter’s quest to reclaim her dissident father’s paintings from Tehran
Filmmakers Sara Nodjoumi and Till Schauder interviewed about their documentary, A Revolution on Canvas, for Fine Art Globe: “A Revolution On Canvas”—a daughter’s quest to reclaim her dissident father’s paintings from … Continue reading
A Woman of Substance
Creative director Sharoz Makarechi interviewed about her activist cannabis brand, Substance, for Pasadena Magazine January 2024 Issue: A Woman of Substance Sharoz Makarechi created a cannabis brand to spur criminal … Continue reading
The Best Music Books of 2023
Listicle of the 20 best music books of 2023 for FLOOD Magazine: The Best Music Books of 2023 From intimate memoirs, to photo-heavy coffee table books, to graphic novel biographies, we … Continue reading
Taylor Hanson on the Iranian Protest Anthem “Baraye” and Telling ‘A Human Story Through Music’
Taylor Hanson interviewed for the release of “Baraye – For Women Life Freedom” for SPIN: Taylor Hanson on the Iranian Protest Anthem “Baraye” and Telling ‘A Human Story Through Music’ Taylor, … Continue reading
The Revolution Will Be Taped
Excerpt from The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Record Store: A Global History, the book in which I have a chapter, accompanied by a little background on the book on … Continue reading
How one Iranian-American teen’s bootleg mixtape circuit ‘allowed us to mainline Western entertainment once again’ (exclusive book excerpt)
Excerpt from The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Record Store: A Global History, the book in which I have a chapter, accompanied by a little background information on me on … Continue reading
Abdi Nazemian: The BFG Interview
Interview with YA author/screenwriter/story editor/producer Abdi Nazemian for Book and Film Globe: Abdi Nazemian: The BFG Interview Queer author and film producer opens up about his experiences to a fellow … Continue reading
The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Record Store
Contributed a chapter to the anthology: The Life, Death and Afterlife of the Record Store: A Global History on “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, It Will Be Taped: Popular … Continue reading
The People of Iran Are Not Backing Down
Interviewed for Abraham Lincoln High School‘s newspaper, The Railsplitter, by sophomore journalism student Charlotte Ly, about my experiences growing up under the oppressive Islamic regime in Iran and activism during … Continue reading
Iranian Alternative Artists Speak Out for Their Persecuted Compatriots in Iran
Amir Amor of Rudimental, Rami Sakurai of Supreme Beings of Leisure, Kittens, Hamid Saeidi of Opium Moon & Hengameh, Nostalgix and Kamtin Mohager of Chain Gang of 1974 and … Continue reading
A Lived History Presentation for “To Iran With Love” Art Gala
Lily Moayeri: A Lived History Presentation for United Iranian Americans‘ “To Iran With Love” art gala at Casa Madera in the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood on March 18, 2023. … Continue reading
The Heart and Resilience of Iran’s Dance Music Community
Interviewed by Harry Levin for this comprehensive article on Iran and electronic musicians for Beatportal: The Heart and Resilience of Iran’s Dance Music Community
Pictures of Lily Podcast: Episode 4.69: Taylor Hanson
In the 69th episode of the Picture of Lily Podcast, I talk about my recent experiences with Taylor Hanson in connection with his activism for the people, particularly the women, … Continue reading
Taylor Hanson Rents Henson’s ‘We Are the World’ Recording Studio to Rework Iranian Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’ as Industry-Wide Collaboration
Taylor Hanson interviewed for his work with nonprofit For Women Life Freedom and the collective recording of “Baraye – For Women Life Freedom” for Variety: Taylor Hanson Rents Henson’s ‘We … Continue reading
Spotify Launches ‘Women of Iran’ Playlist
News item on the launch of an official Spotify playlist called “Women of Iran” and its accompanying video clips for Variety: Spotify Launches ‘Women of Iran’ Playlist Listen to the … Continue reading
There’s Now an Electronic Remix Package of Iranian Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’
News story on the release of “Baraye” remix package spearheaded by DJ/producer Human Rias for Billboard: There’s Now an Electronic Remix Package of Iranian Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’ The lead remix … Continue reading
‘Woman, Life, Freedom’: Hear a New Electronic Compilation From 12 Iranian Female Producers
News item on the release of Woman, Life, Freedom, a compilation of all original electronic music from Iranian female musicians for Billboard: ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’: Hear a New Electronic Compilation From … Continue reading
‘It Breaks My Heart’: Iranian Electronic Artists Dubfire, Lady Faith & Starfari on the Country’s Ongoing Protests & The Beauty of Their Culture
Dubfire, Lady Faith and Starfari interviewed about their experiences in Iran and what it means to be Iranian at the time of the current uprising in that country for Billboard: … Continue reading
TarantisT Call Out Against Injustices in Iran With Their Political Metal
Iranian metal band TarantisT interviewed about their protest music and activism for Alternative Press: TarantisT Call Out Against Injustices in Iran With Their Political Metal Keep up with TarantisT via their Instagram. … Continue reading
Female Executives of Iranian Descent Making an Impact in the Music Industry
Music executives Debra Delshad of Angry Mob Music, Izabelle Pourreza Wilson of Artium Music and Rebecca Sahim of SalXCo talk about their experiences being Iranian and the current upheavals in … Continue reading
Pictures of Lily Podcast: Episode 3.66: Googoosh
In the 66th episode of the Picture of Lily Podcast, I talk about my lifetime of connections with iconic Iranian signer Googoosh and how the effect of the current uprisings … Continue reading
Guest on Don’t Kill the Vibe Podcast Speaking About Music and Politics in the Context of the Iran Revolution
Guested on an episode of Don’t Kill the Vibe Podcast speaking about music and politics, particularly in the context of the 2022 Iran Revolution with hosts Katie Bain and Zel McCarthy … Continue reading
15 Essential Iranian Protest Songs in the Wake of Mahsa Amini’s Death
Listicle of Iranian protest songs that have emerged in the wake of Mahsa Amini‘s death for Variety: 15 Essential Iranian Protest Songs in the Wake of Mahsa Amini’s Death
Googoosh And The Daughters Of The Revolution
Personal essay about Iranian singer Googoosh, her lasting legacy and how she represents Iranian women, especially in the wake of Mahsa Amini‘s death and the protests in Iran for SPIN: … Continue reading
Tech Is Music To Their Ears
Feature in the Los Angeles Times Calendar Section March 8, 2020 Edition: Tech Is Music To Their Ears: Smuggled tapes in the ’80s, VPNs today, Iran youth rely on bootleg Western … Continue reading
Pictures of Lily Podcast: Episode 4.76: Taylor Hanson on the Iranian Protest Anthem “Baraye”
In the 76th episode of the Pictures of Lily Podcast, I am joined by Taylor Hanson who reads the “as told to” portion of the most recent article I wrote … Continue reading →