In 2022, Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour made his impact on the world as a voice of change and freedom with his song “Baraye.” Since the song’s release, he has been speaking up and speaking out about the truth of having the world’s attention. He’s maintained a strong following with painfully honest songs like “Ashghal” and his latest single, “Shabooneh.” Here are seven things you should know about the global phenomenon, Shervin Hajipour.
An Early Start
At only eight years old, Shervin Hajipour found solace in music. He took to playing the violin and years later was proficient enough to start composing his own music. In spite of wanting to live a life led by music, Hajipour decided to get an education in quite the opposite. He graduated form the University of Mazandaran with his bachelor’s degree in economics.
Even while studying in a different field, Hajipour couldn’t step away from music. Throughout his time in school, he found interest in composing for musical theater. Looking to take a turn in the spotlight, he started posting covers to platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud in 2018. Now at the age of 27, Hajipour has over 30 singles to his name.
Multifaceted Talent
Over the years, Shervin Hajipour hasn’t just grown his singing, but also his producing skills. In 2021, he started uploading freestyle singing videos to YouTube using beats he had produced. Within one year, he had posted 36 freestyle tracks. As he strengthened his ability to produce music, his discography quickly grew as well. His song “Piano” was only two minutes long when he originally posted it on YouTube. When it got enough traction for him to grow it into a single, he lengthened it to just under five minutes and posted it on SoundCloud and Spotify. Other songs like “Bahar Oomad” and “Engheza” were originally 90-second, self-produced freestyles. They have grown to be two of his most streamed songs on Spotify.
An Anthem for Protests
With the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in September of 2022, protests erupted across the country with the slogan “Women. Life. Freedom.” Hajipour took to his at-home recording set-up, seeing people’s need for a universal voice. He wrote the song now known as “Baraye,” meaning “For…” in Farsi, using tweets of those who were expressing their reasoning for protest. Within two days, the song garnered 40 million views on Instagram.
The song connected with many and brought eyes to Hajipour as a voice of the people following its translation into English. Giving people strength to keep fighting for their rights, he was summoned by the police. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that Hajipour was said to be “inciting unrest against national security” and “spreading propaganda against the regime.”
Making Grammy History
Moved by his bravery, the Grammy’s created a new category: Best Song For Social Change Special Merit Award. With Hajipour as the first winner of the award, it seemed only fit to have another “first” giving it to him. In presenting the award, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden starts her speech by saying, “A song can unite, inspire, and ultimately change the world.” From over 130,000 submissions of songs they believed deserved the award, a blue ribbon committee chose “Baraye.” Closing her speech with gratitude, Biden said, “Congratulations Shervin, and thank you for your song.”
Recognition by the World
His efforts caught the eye of many celebrities wanting to help, including Coldplay. During a Buenos Aires concert on their Music of the Spheres world tour, they had the chance to spread the message as it was being broadcast in 81 countries. “We believe as a band that everybody should be able to be themselves as long as you don’t hurt anybody else,” said lead singer Chris Martin. “We fully send our love and support to all of those brave young people fighting for freedom.” They then brought on stage Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahan to sing “Baraye” with the crowd.
The next year, Shervin Hajipour was named one of 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time Magazine. Having won his Grammy two months earlier, it seemed to be win on win for Hajipour. Marjane Satrapi, Iranian author of the Time article wrote, “The ultimate validation is on the streets of our country every day and every evening, as his aching melody rises from open car windows. He became the voice of Iran.”
Love for His Country
Though Shervin Hajipour faced criminal treatment due to writing a song, he stayed positive. With everything telling him to find resentment towards Iran and start new elsewhere in the world, his passion for Iran only grew. On January 11, 2024, he released the song “Ashghal,” or “Trash.” Having not been able to release music for two years due to restrictions by the government, he said all that he had been feeling. Hajipour sings, “If one day all of you leave / This trash stays to build this city.”
While people encouraged him to leave his city and country, Hajipour doesn’t feel the need to leave, but to rebuild. During the chorus he sings, “Don’t ask me to leave this land / Wherever I go, my heart stays here.” In just 24 hours, the song reached 30 million views on Instagram.
An Official Pardon
On July 30, 2024, Hajipour took to social media to bring an update on his life. The court had decided to give him three years and eight months in prison, simply for releasing “Baraye” and what came after. He had been in and out of court and working with his lawyers to appeal the case, but there was no luck.
On September 23, 2024, Shervin Hajipour announced that he had been pardoned. He received amnesty from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his full sentence. He took to his Instagram story explaining the news he had received the day before. “A new order had been issued regarding amnesty, and it included my case which has been completely dismissed,” said Hajipour.
As of now, his two-year travel ban is over. He was able to start releasing music again this year and Hajipour’s voice can once again be heard.
Keep up with Shervin Hajipour on Instagram and X. You can listen to all of his music on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
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