Growing up in Iran but now based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Kiani has a unique perspective on the current situation in that country. He moved from his small hometown in the south of Iran to a larger one where he was able to take advantage of the opportunity to study medicine and produce music. He has had 14 years of experience with learning how to play the Persian Tar, and Setar, starting at the age of eight, but his career as a resident neurosurgeon saw him put this on the backburner for a while. Until now.
Kiani’s debut single, ‘I’ll Fly Away’ serves as a showcase to his talents, but additionally has a two-fold purpose. On the surface it’s a dance-pop song timed to coincide with the FIFA World Cup, which started on the weekend in Qatar, promoting the joy and positive energy felt by watching sport, and spreading the same emotions across all nations, sharing a mutual respect for the game, and by extension, each other. With lyrics in a variety of languages, Kiani ensures that this message is received by a wide audience.
The music video for ‘I’ll Fly Away’ reflects this, with clips of soccer games and the excited crowds, and scenes of Kiani’s friends bringing to the fore a fine example of cultural representation. Towards the end of the clip however Kiani reminds the audience of the horrific situation in his homeland, which grew out of the arrest and death of 22 year old Kurdish minority Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, for improperly wearing her hijab. In the last few frames of the video for ‘I’ll Fly Away’, Kiani points out that all women deserve to be free and happy just as much as anyone – and this truly applies to anyone of any gender, race, class, age, or other defining characteristics that make us different. Living in Russia rather than Iran, Kiani is uniquely positioned to speak out about the situation, without fear of consequences, and is able to help get the message out to the world.
You can watch the music video for ‘I’ll Fly Away’ below. Find out more about Kiani and his music online on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
