Learn more about the protests in Iran:
kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/2022/11/8/the-iranian-protest-song-connecting-a-revolution/

As proud Iranian-Americans, my cousin, brother, and I strongly rebuke the Iranian government's authoritarian regime, which uses "religion" as a guise for violence against its own people. We collaborated across state lines to cover this song and amplify the will of the people of Iran. The lyrics below (originally compiled by Shervin Hajipour in Farsi) come directly from Iranian people tweeting about why they have been fighting for change since the murder of Mahsa "Jina" Amini in September 2022.

About the cover art:
"Being an Iranian women who has experienced firsthand the oppression in Iran, it was important for me to create something that symbolized freedom, hope, and movement for change. Every single time I walked out onto the streets of Iran and was forced to cover up, I felt that the world was telling me that I wasn’t allowed to be just me, I felt denied of my existence—I had to hide and cover up who I am—imprisoned within my own skin—in my own native land—I became no one.

"That’s why I chose a bird—the universal symbol of freedom; the unchained. The line work here symbolizes the forward movement of the revolution, it also visually depicts the swooshing elegance of hair in the free, open air. That was the most important to me to visually represent—I remember once when I was a teenager, 16 maybe, coming back from a two-week trip in Iran—it felt good to be back ‘home.’ I got in the car and, as it moved and drove out of the airport, I rolled down the window and felt the air move through my hair—eyes closed. I instantly opened my eyes in panic and feared, 'omg, what am I doing, where is my hijab, I shouldn’t be feeling the wind in my hair.' It was also equally important for me to represent all the precious and beautiful souls who lost their lives for this revolution. The circles intertwined in the bird/hair represent all the lives that have been sacrificed for the cause.

"May our work make a ripple in this revolution." -Naghmeh Ghafourian

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