Mehrdad Asemani: The Voice of Exile and Harmony
Mehrdad Asemani, born on July 15, 1967, in Tehran, is a prominent Iranian singer, composer, and arranger whose name has become synonymous with nostalgia, romantic ballads, and sociopolitical commentary in Persian pop music. With a career spanning over three decades and collaborations with some of the most iconic Iranian vocalists, Asemani has emerged as one of the key figures in the post-revolutionary Iranian music diaspora, especially in Los Angeles, where he resides today.
Early Life and Education in Tehran
Mehrdad Asemani was born into a middle-class family on Shahbaz Street in southern Tehran, an area known for its cultural diversity and active urban life. He spent much of his childhood on Hafez Street, located in the historic Sanglej district—one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, rich in tradition and memory. These formative years in the heart of Tehran left a lasting impression on his artistic sensibilities, which would later appear in his music.Mehrdad pursued his primary education at Firuzkohi Elementary School and continued at Hafad Middle School. He completed his high school education at Hafad High School No. 2. From a young age, Asemani exhibited a keen interest in music, often experimenting with melodies and compositions while still a student. Despite the socio-political upheavals of the 1980s in Iran, he found refuge in his love for music and gradually began receiving instruction from local music teachers.