From Azizam to Coachella: The Rise of Arab & Iranian influences in Western music

Earlier this month, Ed Sheeran dropped his new single ‘Azizam’, Persian for ‘my darling’. The song already features Iranian melodies, instruments, and vocals from Iranian pop legends like Arash and Andy. Ed Sheeran also said that a full Farsi version of Azizam is even on the way. This might’ve surprised some listeners, but for many Iranians, it felt like a breakthrough.c