In 1999, Mehrdad Asemani began holding concerts across the United States and Europe. His shows often attracted a diverse Iranian diaspora longing for both musical joy and cultural remembrance. With a mixture of old favorites and new compositions, his concerts offered catharsis and connection for exiled communities.
Personal Life
In 2000, Mehrdad married Ghazaleh, with whom he had two sons: Mehrzad and Mahan. The couple divorced in 2010 after a decade of marriage. Later, in 2019, Mehrdad married Shiva Rahimi, and the couple had a son named Milan. While Mehrdad generally keeps his personal life private, his music often reflects the emotional highs and lows of relationships, fatherhood, and the passage of time.
Composing for Other Singers
Mehrdad Asemani is perhaps equally well-known for his prolific career as a composer for other iconic Iranian singers. Over the years, he has worked with many prominent vocalists, shaping the soundscape of Persian pop in exile.
Collaboration with Googoosh
Mehrdad Asemani’s collaboration with Googoosh marked a golden chapter in his career. Their first collaboration, “QQ Bang Bang”, featured a poem by Zoya Zakarian and arrangement by Manouchehr Cheshmazar. The 13-minute piece was a powerful fusion of storytelling and melody, creating an almost cinematic listening experience.
Their artistic partnership reached new heights in 2004 with the release of “Akhtar Khabar”. Mehrdad composed nearly all the songs (except for “Pir Mashreq”), with lyrics provided by Ghanbari and Zakarian. The duo performed the title track as a duet, creating a compelling musical dialogue between two generations of Iranian artistry.