11 Iranian DJs that you need to know

As people around the world react to POTUS Donald Trump’s recent order to ban citizens of specific Middle Eastern countries from entering the United States, it’s become more important now than ever to understand and appreciate contributions from these cultures.

With that in mind, Mixmag has compiled a list of dance music artists from Iran, one of seven countries included in Trump’s executive order that many might be surprised to learn has supplied dance music with some of its top acts.

Iranian producer Navid Izadi shared a fascinating account following the announcement of Trump’s order, expressing how important immigration is to him: “If Trump's immigration ban was in place when my mother came to the US from Iran, there would have been no Navid Izadi, there would be no music, none of you would ever know I existed. The citizens of both countries, both fighting for freedom and equality, don't deserve to suffer the consequences of their leaders' twisted visions. I'll continue to fight the good fight, armed with love and music. I'm going to do what I can to give a voice to those being silenced. We have internet, we have speakers, and so no ban, no wall, no barriers or boundaries can keep our art suppressed. This is only the beginning.”

It’s logical to think that media restrictions and censorship in Iran suppresses creativity. That said, the artists listed below live in other parts of the world, which has allowed their creativity to flourish. If the rest of the world thought the same as Trump and installed similar policies, this music might not ever have reached our ears. Listen to quality material from the likes of Dubfire, Darius Syrossian, Behrouz and more below.

Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here

Currently based in the Netherlands, SEVDALIZA immigrated from her hometown of Tehran, Iran when she was 16 thanks to her skills on the basketball court. She has since blossomed into a leading innovator in the realm of electronic R&B and her debut album, titled ‘Bebin’, has been highly praised since its release at the tail end of January 2017. Listen to the album’s title track below.

Dubfire needs little introduction. He’s the man behind the consistent SCI+TEC label and his passion for pushing the boundaries is well documented with his immersive dubfire:live HYBRID show. Now splitting time residing in Washington DC and Barcelona, he originally hails from the Iranian capital of Tehran. As one half of Deep Dish with fellow Iranian Sharam, they earned a Grammy nomination for their remix of ‘Music’ by Madonna and won the "Best Remixed Recording" Grammy for their remix of Dido's ‘Thank You’. Mixmag tapped Dubfire for an In Session mix in September 2016 where he explores his signature style of techno. Listen below.

Ash Koosha is a prominent producer in the experimental electronic sphere who has been gaining momentum in recent years, especially after his second album dropped on Ninja Tune in 2016. Also a man of many talents, he’s dabbled in directing and acting, playing the lead role in an Iranian film which forced him to seek asylum in the UK due to its reaction in his native country. Listen to his genre-defying mix below.

With early support from Claude VonStroke, Ardalan quickly gained recognition for his techy, bass-laden productions. Born in Tehran, he now resides in San Francisco as part of the Dirtybird family. But the support doesn't stop there: he’s also received praise from the likes of A-Trak, Maya Jane Coles, Audiojack and Riva Starr among others. Last year Mixmag premiered his remix of Eddie Amador’s 'Psycho X Girlfriend', which showcases his whimsical style.

As a resident at the wickedly popular Ibiza party DO NOT SLEEP, Tehran-born Darius Syrossian clearly knows how to throw a party. His music can be found on acclaimed imprints like Get Physical, 8 bit, Hot Creations and VIVa MUSiC among others, while his skill behind the decks is of the highest degree. Read about his journey here and listen back to how Syrossian celebrated the beginning of 2017 via the recording of his set in Manchester below.

Sharam has been a staple in the deep techno scene for years, gaining recognition as one half of the production duo Deep Dish with Dubfire before branching out as a solo artist and releasing two albums of his own. Hailing from Tehran before setting up shop in Washington DC, he’s been a focal point of the city’s dance music scene for decades. His Wildcast podcast series is always good from some gems, listen to episode 97 below.

Fusing together elements of funk, soul, disco, hip-hop and more, Navid Izadi’s unique approach to production has made him part of the core Crew Love collective with Sould Clap, Wolf + Lamb and Nick Monaco among others. Now a resident in San Francisco, he was vocal when Trump signed the immigration ban order, expressing how important it was to his development as an artist to be able to leave Iran. It’s been some time since we’ve been graced with new material, but his debut album should be on the way. In the meantime, dive into his most recent release to get a feel for his sound.

Omid 16B has been a key figure in the tech-house scene since the sound was beginning to pick up steam in the mid 90s. With an Iranian background, he grew up in London and immersed himself in the dance music scene, launching three labels throughout his career. Plus, when he's got music on labels like Yoshitoshi, Ministry Of Sound, Tsuba and Bedrock, it's clear his sound is in-demand. Listen to his recent collaboration with Alex George titled 'Seven, released on his own SexOnWax imprint.

The Iranian duo Blade & Beard, consisting of Anoosh and Arash, have had a long road to becoming known for their craft. A major boost was that they were the subjects of a documentary titled Raving Iran which highlighted their story of opposing the government to throw techno parties in the desert. Now based in Zurich, Switzerland, they are continuing to follow their dreams, gigging around the world and lining up a string up forthcoming releases. Listen to their forthcoming remix of ‘Don't Look Down’ by Scared Of Heights below.

In the realm of ethereal house music, Behrouz stands out as one of the scene’s key figures. Whether in the gritty warehouses of Brooklyn or the alluring atmosphere of Ibiza, he delivers hypnotic soundscapes with each performance. He’s held down a residency at the Robot Heart camp at Burning Man and is also the owner of Do Not Sit On The Furniture in Miami Beach. Listen back to his Do Not Sit On The Furniture podcast for ADE 2016 below.

Namito’s storied career as a member of the Berlin techno scene began in the mid 90s and it wasn’t long before he became a resident of the legendary Tresor nightclub. Citing revolution in Iran as a major influence, it’s clear the love for his home country guides him in his art form. Listen back to three hours of Namito at Grand Factory in Beirut, Lebanon below.