From Afghanistan to the UK: Elaha Soroor on Music, Exile and Freedom

In this episode, we sit down with London based singer and songwriter from Afghanistan, Elaha Soroor, whose powerful voice refused to be quieted by state-enforced music bans or geographic displacement. Born in Iran to refugee parents, Elaha candidly opens up about the systemic racism she endured growing up, the perilous journey of pursuing art where female singing is criminalized, and what it meant to fight for her creative freedom across borders.She was selected as one of the BBC's 100 women of the year in 2024.​Now based in the UK, Elaha reflects on her new album "Our Freedoms Must Be Won", how her childhood, emigration and growing up in conflict shaped the sound and what stories she wanted to tell."Our Freedoms must be Won": https://open.spotify.com/album/2maJaRwNeXwY9wO9wrgh2Q?si=xOeaiy_dTH-rJD4Wbhd1tAAlbum Launch Concert in London: https://dice.fm/event/3oxv8p--kefaya-elaha-soroor-20th-sep-the-lower-third-london-tickets?dice_id=Fd7a73144160Elaha Soroor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ElahaSoroor_music/BBC 100 Women, 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-4f79d09b-655a-42f8-82b4-9b2ecebab611Cover Photo from the song "Masooma".Connect With UsWe love hearing from our listeners! Reach out, share your thoughts, or ask questions here:Instagram: @IranUnveiledpodEmail: [email protected]: iumedia.co.ukImportant DisclaimerPlease Note: Iran Unveiled is an entirely independent, passion-driven project. We are not funded, backed, or supported by any government body, political entity, or external organization. The views and stories shared on this show are strictly based on our personal experiences and independent research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.