For a lot of us living outside of Iran without any direct insight into the daily lives of young Iranians, neither Arian Band nor Chris de Burgh perhaps rings a bell, and if it does, Arian’s latest push for change in Iran, which comes in the form of a collaboration with an Irish legend (Chris de Burgh) might not seem like a big deal.

However, if one were to observe Iran’s social dilemma more closely, it would be easy to realize why Arian and their band members should be rewarded for single handedly nourishing and planting the seeds for some of the biggest changes inside Iran, and slowly leading a movement to modernize a culture and civilization that was deeply craving some fresh air.

When one refers to a band as ‘pop’, it is easy to think about the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and the likes of others who have truly ruined music for some time to come. And when that label is associated to Arian, it perhaps shrinks their external fan reach amongst Persians to the teenagers who happen to follow ‘pop bands’ and therefore cuts out the demographic that should know more and actually care about these guys. At the same time, although they are associated to ‘pop’, yet there is something very different about this band, and to fully understand the difference between ‘pop’ outside of Iran and ‘pop’ inside Iran, one needs to go back about ten years.

Prior to ten years ago, and after the 1979 revolution, no ‘Legal’ band inside of Iran had EVER been labeled as ‘Pop’. Religious music ruled the streets and although people had access to works by underground musicians and pop albums that were produced in the U.S.; nevertheless, it didn’t serve the right purpose, because people had to secretly listen to the music that they liked and forcefully listen to things that they didn’t necessarily like. At that time no one would ever think that in ten years time, Iran’s young generation would have the freedom to not only create and produce pop albums, but also Rock, Indie Rock, and even Hip Hop/Rap.

Every change requires a change agent or agents, someone or a group of people who decide to challenge the norm and fight for what they believe is right. Ten years ago when Ali Pahlivan and Payam Salehi (lead singers and founders of Arian Band) met while serving their two year military ‘duty’ on the outskirts of Iran, their dream of forming a band that most people would actually like to listen to, was constantly overshadowed by the fact that such a band would need to be ‘legal’ and not underground. This way people actually get to taste what they like without fearing anyone (a.k.a freedom), and in return this band would plant the seed for a ‘real band’, one that can legally express themselves without any borders and boundaries.

After completing their military duty Payam and Ali started recording their songs and fought as hard as anyone in every court to legally distribute their album and songs across the country. Needless to say they were granted permission and over the years they kept pushing the envelope further with every new album, and now after ten years this band is not only legally active in Iran with millions of followers who know and appreciate the significance of their movement, but has also opened the doors for the next generation of musicians to not only perform in Iran, but outside Iran as well.

With their latest album ‘Arian IV’ now released, this band is again on the verge of writing a new chapter in the history books and pushing the envelope one step further by collaborating with a major ‘Western’ musician. Ironically, fighting to legally produce their collaborative song about Peace with ‘Chris De Burgh’ is another first and another push for change that could bring about limitless opportunities and inspiration for Iran’s young generation who have been deprived of legally watching or listening to ‘Western Music’ in Iran.