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Ebrahim Hamedi, identified to Persian music lovers as Ebi, Mr. Voice of the World, hopes someday to fulfil a lifelong dream: to carry out a live performance in his native Iran.
But it surely’s simpler stated than finished: since 1977, Hamedi — who performs Scotiabank Area Saturday — has been dividing his time between Los Angeles and Marbella, Spain, residing in exile after the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and any liberal cultural insurance policies that existed on the time.
The present authoritarian regime has banned music and made outcasts of Ebi and different in style Iranian stars like Faegheh “Googoosh” Atashin, Andranik “Andy” Madadian, Aref Arefkia, Dariush Eghbali, Faramarz Aslani, Leila Forouhar and Shahram Shabpareh.
“It’s one in every of my greatest needs however, sadly, it isn’t potential,” stated Hamedi final Friday by way of Zoom from L.A. “However we now have some concert events the place individuals come from Iran, for instance, come to Turkey, different nations round Iran, which is superb and makes me so comfortable”
At 72, Hamedi is optimistic.
“I’m nonetheless considering that earlier than I stop I’m going to have a live performance in Iran,” stated the Iranian icon. “Perhaps the subsequent six months, possibly one 12 months, possibly 10 years: I’m simply hoping and I feel it’ll occur.”
Born in Khorramabad, Hamedi started his profession as a teen, forming the band the Solar Boys.
“We did gigs and personal events after which, after a few years, I went to the membership which was known as Cuccini, which was very, very well-known membership in Tehran by that point. Then I began working with the band by the title of Black Cats. Then I separated and I begin singing solo.”
Ebrahim Hamedi, higher identified by his stage title Ebi, is an Iranian pop singer who first began his profession in Tehran, gaining fame as a part of a boy band, and later began his solo profession which has spanned over 50 years, and immediately he is identified to be some of the well-known and beloved Iranian singers on this planet. Ebi moved to Los Angeles, two years earlier than the 1979 revolution in Iran, and continued his profession in exile. All through the years Ebi has launched near 200 singles, and over 30 albums, he’s additionally identified for his philanthropic endeavors.
In 1977, Hamedi carried out in a New York membership and was invited to carry out for just a few months at an L.A. cabaret.
“Presently, the revolution began,” he stated. “The cities had been internet hosting demonstrations and I made a decision to remain a bit of bit longer and see what was going to occur in Iran. The revolution occurred and there was no place for me in Iran, so I stayed right here in Los Angeles.”
In subsequent years, Hamedi, who sings solely in Farsi, has carried on recording songs and albums, a lot of his music distributed all through international Persian communities by way of cassette, whereas he fills arenas all over the world.
Songs similar to “Sabad Sabad,” “Goriz” and “Ghorbat” have saved Hamedi present, and whereas a few of them are about love, some are protest songs essential of the insurance policies of the present regime and its quite a few human rights infringements.
One factor is definite: Iran isn’t removed from Ebi’s thoughts.
“Day by day I’m interested by my nation, daily,” Hamedi stated. “A whole lot of issues occur there which might be ugly, it’s brutal. And the final 40 years I’ve sung many, many songs which had been about my nation, about individuals, and I’m nonetheless having a reference to the individuals in Iran.
“We’ve a wealthy nation. We’ve sources like oil and plenty of, many issues, and individuals are poor. They don’t have something to eat. Most of them, they’re going via rubbish to seek out meals. It makes me very, very unhappy.”
Hamedi is conscious that his music shines a light-weight on political frustrations however feels he could possibly be a stronger contributor.
“I’m doing it, however it’s not sufficient,” he stated. “I feel I’ve to do extra. However I’m simply an artist. I’m not a political consultant. I’m a conduit of positivity.”
One constructive impact of his present the Love Venture tour is its assist of the With You Basis — a charity based by Ebi’s spouse, Mahshid Hamedi Boromand — which grants needs to Farsi- and Iranian-speaking youngsters in life-threatening circumstances. Cash from every live performance ticket bought goes towards the trigger.
“Wherever I’m going, I attempt to cross on positivity, which is the entire function of the With You Basis: to deliver pleasure and a constructive impression on some Farsi-speaking youngsters’s lives,” Hamedi stated. “That’s the inspiration behind the tour.”
The final time Ebi carried out in Toronto, it was 4 reveals at what’s now Meridian Corridor. This time it’s on the extra cavernous Scotiabank Area. Hamedi stated one in every of his greatest challenges is selecting which songs to carry out.
“I’ve about 250 songs and my band, my son, my spouse are serving to me to decide on the songs. For me to resolve what I’m going to sing, it’s laborious for me as a result of I like all my songs.”
He additionally admitted that advances in know-how frustrate him, as a result of there was some extent in his profession the place he might regulate the set listing on a whim if he felt like taking part in one thing else. Now that there’s video accompaniment, the track choice is just about locked in.
However he’s wanting ahead to performing right here.
“Toronto is among the finest cities with incredible individuals,” Hamedi stated. “They’re very type and I can say they’re among the best crowds I’ve ever had at my concert events.
“I can name that metropolis ‘Little Iran,’ as a result of every little thing is there. Something you need is in Toronto.”
On a lighter observe — and additional proof that Simon Cowell’s tentacles stretch to each nook of the Earth — Ebi served as a decide for 2020’s “Persia’s Obtained Expertise,” filmed in … Sweden.
It’s not one thing Hamedi is thrilled about, however he realizes {that a} homegrown expertise present can’t exist in Iran for the time being.
“I want we might have this present someplace else as a substitute of Sweden,” Hamedi stated. “If we go to Turkey, we might have quite a lot of expertise from Iran. The abilities that we had in that present they got here from Europe, from Germany, Holland and throughout. So the expertise choice that we had was restricted, however I had quite a lot of enjoyable.”
However there’s one other drawback: if Iranian residents go away the nation to take part, what occurs to them after they return?
“I’ve sympathy for my individuals in Iran,” stated Hamedi. “As I stated earlier than, they’re actually struggling and the state of affairs has reached a boiling level. Any day, one thing might occur as a result of individuals come out for demonstrations to get their wage they usually arrest them, they beat them, they kill them. The federal government, they don’t wish to do something for the individuals. The federal government is taking good care of themselves.
“Hopefully my individuals can do one thing about it. They must be collectively and hopefully they’ve a greater future. It’s of their palms.”
And he’s wanting ahead to persevering with to fill their hearts with hope together with his uplifting songs.
Hamedi refuses to name those that attend his reveals followers.
“They aren’t my followers; they’re my pals: I really feel that they’re very near me. That’s why I can’t stop my job. I like to sing as a result of I like this job.”
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