Renowned Iranian singer Mamak Khadem, one of the finest vocalists in the world music scene, is set to release an EP titled “Say Her Name” (Six Degrees Record) on November 1, 2022.
In addition to being a world-class performer, Mamak Khadem is also a committed human rights activist and advocate for freedom of speech. As Iranian leadership grew more conservative and extremist under Islamist rule, Mamak was among the youthful protestors in Tehran who manned the barricades for freedom. After moving to the United States for her education, she continued to use her voice and music in demonstrations against the Islamic Republic government and to perform in public on behalf of women’s rights and social justice.
The recent death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s “morality police” has sparked moral outrage throughout the country and around the world. Women and girls in Iran have been speaking out in righteous protest despite repression from the hardline authorities.
Say Her Name #Mahsa Amini is Mamak’s powerfully moving response to the terrible events in her homeland and the plight of its female citizens. The title song, honoring the memory of Mahsa Amini, joins two songs from Mamak’s album “Remembrance” with lyrics drawn from the verse of revered Persian poets who died for their beliefs: “Mina” (words by Saied Soltanpour, executed in 1981 for his free speech advocacy) and “Face to Face” (words by 19th century activist Fatemeh Baraghani, slain for her Bahai faith and for defiantly removing her headscarf in public).
The EP also features a live version of “Face to Face,” recorded at Mamak’s August 2022 concert at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage performance venue, book-ended with audio from recent massive protests around the globe. A stunning video has been created for the title song, deeply disturbing in its litany of injustice and misogyny as documented by filmed footage and still photos from Iran, spanning decades:
All proceeds from sales and streaming of the EP go 100% to OMID Foundation for its work with at-risk women and girls in Iran. Learn more about OMID at www.omidfoundation.com.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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