Book Recommendation! Tehrangeles Dreaming: Intimacy and Imagination in Southern California's Iranian Pop Music by Farzaneh Hemmasi

Enter the world of Iranian music thousands of miles away in the multicultural heart of Los Angeles! Iranians call it "Tehrangeles" for it truly feels like a mini Tehran in the middle of a major world city. L.A. is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Iranian communities and is unsurprisingly a musical hub!

Hemmasi writes a fascinating exposé revealing the intricacies behind the lyrics of Iranian pop. She delves into the backgrounds of noteworthy artists like Dariush Eghbali and Googoosh who share the rebuilding of their lives post-revolution through their iconic songs. These songs have become anthems for more than just L.A. Iranians, but members all over the world from the fragmented Iranian diaspora community.

Hemmasi is an Iranian American who finds both aspects of her identity present in the gorgeous blend that makes up the unique style of Tehrangeles pop. She currently teaches Ethnomusicology at the University of Toronto.

Find her

and website here!