©️I Want My Music Heard — But Not Stolen: A Public Response About Copyright and Respect!

I have received this comment under my “Stop Stealing My Music” post, and this is my public answer — to this lovely person and to everyone else who genuinely does not understand my issue:

درود عزیزم مگه نمی‌خواهید موزیک شما نشر پیدا کنه؟ همه بشنون؟ من متوجه نمیشم. وقتی ویدئو خودتون با لوگو خودتون پخش بشه مشکلش چیه؟ خودتون پروموت میشید. شما مدنظرتونه چه جوری مشهور بشه صدای زیباتون؟

“My dear, don’t you want your music to spread? Don’t you want everyone to hear it? I don’t understand. If your video is shared with your own logo, what is the problem? You are promoting yourself. How do you expect your beautiful voice to become famous?”

First of all, thank you for asking this respectfully. I know many people are thinking the same thing, so I want to answer honestly and from the heart.

Yes — every artist (I'm a songwriter and producer) wants their work to be heard. I’m happy when my music reaches people. But there is a big difference between something being heard and something being taken and reposted without permission.

Stealing my content is not just taking a video or a song I worked on for hours or days — to me, it feels like stealing my baby. Every book I write, every song I compose and produce carries a piece of my life, my time, and my emotions. It is natural that I want to protect my “babies” and keep them safe at home — on my official page — instead of seeing them appear on random accounts that have nothing to do with music or songwriting.

I don’t need my videos posted next to images of an oppressive regime or placed on political pages that have no real connection to art, even if some of my lyrics are political. The message behind my music is unity, solidarity, love, and humanity. Sadly, what I have experienced in recent weeks has felt like the opposite of solidarity.

If I had known that my hard work and my songs would be treated with this level of disrespect, I might not have released two albums at all. First, I had to hide album tracks because people were streaming instead of downloading — even though Bandcamp’s concept is based on supporting artists through downloads. Bandcamp is not Spotify; real support there means purchasing and downloading the work.

Now I have even had to switch my Instagram account to private and stop promotions because some Iranian accounts download and repost my work — my “babies” — without permission on feeds that have nothing to do with music or songwriting. This is exhausting and deeply upsetting. My team and I have spent countless hours reporting accounts to META. We have sent direct messages to each account, left respectful comments under reposted content, and still, we are ignored.

To be completely honest, right now, my team and I regret releasing these songs at all. They were meant to show solidarity/Hambastegi with Iranians around the world, but what is happening feels like the opposite of solidarity. Hambastegi is not only listening. Real support means respect, downloading instead of just consuming, asking for permission, and removing content when the creator politely asks.

When someone only listens but does not support, or reposts content without permission and refuses to remove it when asked respectfully — that is not solidarity. That is not Hambastegi. 

My intention has never been to limit who hears my music. My intention is simply that my work is shared with awareness, respect, and responsibility — because behind every piece of music there is a real human being, a real story, and a real life invested in it 🤍

© Copyright Explained Simply: If You Didn’t Create It, It Isn’t Yours!

What “Copyright” Really Means — A Simple Explanation for Everyone

Many people hear the word copyright but don’t fully understand what it actually means. So let’s explain it in a clear, simple way — without complicated legal language.

What is Copyright?

Copyright means ownership of creative work.

If someone writes a song, a book, a poem, produces music, records a video, or creates any original content, that work automatically belongs to the creator. It becomes their intellectual property the moment it is created.

You don’t need to be famous.

You don’t need to be rich.

And you don’t need to register it somewhere first.

If you created it — it’s yours.

A Simple Real-Life Example

Imagine you visit a famous museum. You see a beautiful painting on the wall. You love it so much that you decide to take it home and hang it in your living room.

Sounds crazy, right? Because everyone understands that this would be stealing.

Using someone’s music, text, or videos without permission is very similar. Just because something is online and easy to copy does not mean it is free to use.

Liking something does not give anyone ownership.

“But I Only Used a Few Seconds…”

This is a very common misunderstanding.

In the creative industry, even a few seconds of music or a small part of a text can be protected. Copyright does not start at one minute or at a certain length. A melody, a lyric line, or a short audio clip can already be protected by law.

Yes — people can face legal action for using small parts without permission.

Is Copyright Only a Western Idea?

No. Copyright is global.

Almost every country has organizations that protect writers, composers, producers, and artists. These organizations collect royalties, track usage, and defend creators’ rights. The systems may look different from country to country, but the principle is the same: creators own their work.

Music you hear on TV, in films, on social media, or on the radio is not “free content.” Someone created it, and it is protected.

Why This Matters

Creative work is not just a hobby — it is also a profession. Writers and musicians invest years of practice, time, emotion, and money into what they create.

When someone reposts or uses that work without permission, they are not just “sharing.” They are taking something that belongs to someone else. They are stealing someone else's personal belongings. 

Respecting copyright means respecting the creator.

What You Can Do Instead

If you like someone’s work, there are respectful ways to support them:

• Ask for permission.

• Credit the creator clearly.

• Share the original post instead of reposting it as your own.

• Collaborate — many artists are open to cooperation when approached honestly.

The Bottom Line

Copyright is simple:

If you didn’t create it, it doesn’t belong to you.

The internet did not remove ownership — it only made copying easier. Respecting creative work helps artists continue creating, and it builds a culture where originality is valued instead of taken.

And honestly — supporting artists feels much better than treating their work like a free souvenir from a museum wall.

© Copyright einfach erklärt: Wenn du es nicht erschaffen hast, gehört es dir nicht!

Was „Copyright“ wirklich bedeutet — Einfach erklärt für alle

Viele Menschen hören das Wort Copyright, wissen aber nicht genau, was es eigentlich bedeutet. Deshalb erklären wir es hier einfach und verständlich — ohne komplizierte Gesetzessprache.

Was ist Copyright?

Copyright bedeutet Eigentum an kreativen Werken.

Wenn jemand einen Song schreibt, ein Buch verfasst, ein Gedicht erstellt, Musik produziert, ein Video aufnimmt oder eigene Inhalte erschafft, gehört dieses Werk automatisch der Person, die es geschaffen hat. Es wird in dem Moment zu ihrem geistigen Eigentum, in dem es entsteht.

Man muss nicht berühmt sein.

Man muss nicht reich sein.

Und man muss es nicht zuerst irgendwo registrieren.

Wenn du es erschaffen hast — gehört es dir.

Ein einfaches Beispiel aus dem echten Leben

Stell dir vor, du besuchst ein berühmtes Museum. Du siehst ein wunderschönes Gemälde an der Wand. Es gefällt dir so sehr, dass du beschließt, es mitzunehmen und in deinem Wohnzimmer aufzuhängen.

Klingt absurd, oder? Jeder versteht, dass das Diebstahl wäre.

Jemandes Musik, Texte oder Videos ohne Erlaubnis zu benutzen, ist sehr ähnlich. Nur weil etwas online ist und leicht kopiert werden kann, bedeutet das nicht, dass es frei verwendbar ist.

Etwas zu mögen gibt niemandem das Recht darauf.

„Aber ich habe doch nur ein paar Sekunden benutzt…“

Das ist ein sehr häufiges Missverständnis.

In der Kreativbranche können sogar wenige Sekunden Musik oder ein kleiner Teil eines Textes geschützt sein. Copyright beginnt nicht erst nach einer Minute oder ab einer bestimmten Länge. Eine Melodie, eine Textzeile oder ein kurzer Audioausschnitt kann bereits gesetzlich geschützt sein.

Ja — selbst für kleine Ausschnitte kann es rechtliche Konsequenzen geben.

Ist Copyright nur eine westliche Idee?

Nein. Copyright ist global.

Fast jedes Land hat Organisationen, die Autorinnen, Komponisten, Produzenten und Künstler schützen. Diese Organisationen sammeln Tantiemen, überwachen die Nutzung und verteidigen die Rechte der Kreativen. Die Systeme sehen von Land zu Land unterschiedlich aus, aber das Prinzip bleibt gleich: Wer etwas erschafft, besitzt es.

Musik im Fernsehen, in Filmen, auf Social Media oder im Radio ist kein „freier Inhalt“. Jemand hat sie erschaffen — und sie ist geschützt.

Warum das wichtig ist

Kreative Arbeit ist nicht nur ein Hobby — sie ist auch ein Beruf. Autorinnen und Musiker investieren Jahre an Übung, Zeit, Emotionen und Geld in ihre Werke.

Wenn jemand diese Arbeit ohne Erlaubnis repostet oder verwendet, ist das nicht einfach nur „Teilen“. Es bedeutet, etwas zu nehmen, das jemand anderem gehört.

Copyright zu respektieren bedeutet, die Künstler zu respektieren.

Was man stattdessen tun kann

Wenn dir die Arbeit von jemandem gefällt, gibt es respektvolle Wege, sie zu unterstützen:

• Um Erlaubnis fragen.

• Den Urheber klar nennen.

• Den Originalbeitrag teilen statt ihn als eigenen zu posten.

• Ehrlich nach Kooperationen fragen — viele Künstler sind offen dafür.

Das Wichtigste zum Schluss

Copyright ist eigentlich ganz einfach:

Wenn du es nicht erschaffen hast, gehört es dir nicht.

Das Internet hat Eigentum nicht abgeschafft — es hat nur das Kopieren leichter gemacht. Kreative Arbeit zu respektieren hilft Künstlern weiterzumachen und schafft eine Kultur, in der Originalität geschätzt wird.

© کپی‌رایت به زبان ساده: اگر تو خلقش نکرده‌ای، مال تو نیست

 

کپی‌رایت یعنی چه؟ — یک توضیح ساده برای همه

خیلی‌ها کلمه‌ی کپی‌رایت را شنیده‌اند، اما دقیقاً نمی‌دانند یعنی چه. اینجا می‌خواهیم خیلی ساده و بدون زبان پیچیده‌ی حقوقی آن را توضیح بدهیم.

کپی‌رایت چیست؟

کپی‌رایت یعنی مالکیت بر آثار خلاقانه.

اگر کسی یک آهنگ بسازد، کتاب بنویسد، شعر خلق کند، موسیقی تولید کند، ویدیو ضبط کند یا هر محتوای اصیل دیگری ایجاد کند، آن اثر از همان لحظه به صاحبش تعلق دارد. این می‌شود مالکیت فکری.

لازم نیست معروف باشی.

لازم نیست ثروتمند باشی.

و لازم نیست اول جایی ثبتش کنی.

اگر تو آن را خلق کرده‌ای — مال توست.

یک مثال ساده از زندگی واقعی

تصور کن به یک موزه‌ی معروف می‌روی. یک نقاشی زیبا روی دیوار می‌بینی و آن‌قدر خوشت می‌آید که تصمیم می‌گیری آن را برداری و در خانه‌ی خودت آویزان کنی.

عجیب به نظر می‌رسد، درست است؟ چون همه می‌دانند این کار دزدی است.

استفاده از موسیقی، متن یا ویدیوی دیگران بدون اجازه، خیلی شبیه همین کار است. فقط چون چیزی در اینترنت وجود دارد و کپی کردنش آسان است، به این معنی نیست که استفاده از آن آزاد است.

دوست داشتن یک اثر، مالکیت نمی‌آورد.

«اما من فقط چند ثانیه استفاده کردم…»

این یک سوءتفاهم رایج است.

در صنعت خلاق، حتی چند ثانیه از یک قطعه‌ی موسیقی یا بخش کوچکی از یک متن هم می‌تواند تحت حمایت قانون باشد. کپی‌رایت از یک دقیقه یا یک زمان مشخص شروع نمی‌شود. یک ملودی کوتاه، یک خط شعر یا یک کلیپ صوتی کوتاه هم می‌تواند محافظت شود.

بله — حتی استفاده‌ی کوتاه بدون اجازه ممکن است پیامد قانونی داشته باشد.

آیا کپی‌رایت فقط مخصوص کشورهای غربی است؟

نه. کپی‌رایت یک موضوع جهانی است.

تقریباً همه‌ی کشورها سازمان‌هایی دارند که از نویسندگان، آهنگسازان، تهیه‌کنندگان و هنرمندان حمایت می‌کنند. این سازمان‌ها حق‌الزحمه‌ها را جمع‌آوری می‌کنند، استفاده از آثار را پیگیری می‌کنند و از حقوق خالقان دفاع می‌کنند. شاید سیستم‌ها در هر کشور متفاوت باشد، اما اصل موضوع یکی است: خالق اثر صاحب آن است.

موسیقی‌ای که در تلویزیون، فیلم‌ها، شبکه‌های اجتماعی یا رادیو می‌شنویم، محتوای رایگان نیست. کسی آن را ساخته و از نظر قانونی محافظت می‌شود.

چرا این موضوع مهم است؟

کار خلاقانه فقط یک سرگرمی نیست — یک حرفه است. نویسندگان و موزیسین‌ها سال‌ها زمان، احساس، انرژی و هزینه صرف آثارشان می‌کنند.

وقتی کسی بدون اجازه اثری را دوباره منتشر می‌کند یا استفاده می‌کند، فقط «به اشتراک‌گذاری» نیست؛ یعنی برداشتن چیزی که متعلق به شخص دیگری است.

احترام به کپی‌رایت یعنی احترام به خالق اثر.

به‌جای آن چه کار می‌توان کرد؟

اگر اثری را دوست داری، راه‌های محترمانه‌ای برای حمایت وجود دارد:

• اجازه بگیر.

• نام خالق را واضح ذکر کن.

• پست اصلی را به اشتراک بگذار، نه اینکه آن را به نام خودت منتشر کنی.

• برای همکاری صادقانه درخواست بده — بسیاری از هنرمندان استقبال می‌کنند.

خلاصه‌ی حرف

کپی‌رایت ساده است:

اگر تو آن را خلق نکرده‌ای، مال تو نیست.

اینترنت مالکیت را از بین نبرده — فقط کپی کردن را آسان‌تر کرده است. احترام به آثار خلاقانه باعث می‌شود هنرمندان به خلق ادامه دهند و فرهنگ ارزش‌گذاری به اصالت شکل بگیرد.

⚠️An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg and Meta!

“Copyright theft of reels and missing protection on social platforms.”

“My Open Letter About Copyright Theft of My Reels and Ongoing Copyright Violations on Meta and the lack of support”

I am writing this as an independent artist, songwriter, and creator who believes in the power of music to support people through difficult times. In recent weeks, I released two albums to stand in solidarity with the Iranian community worldwide — using my voice and my art to encourage hope, unity, and resilience.

For the first time in years, I invested my own money into paid promotion across Europe, North America, Canada, and Australia so that my music could reach people who needed it most. I expected challenges. What I did not expect was the scale of copyright violations I am currently facing across Meta platforms.

Shortly after my reels began reaching audiences, multiple accounts downloaded and re-uploaded my videos without permission. This happened even though my settings do not allow downloads. Since then, I have submitted several copyright reports and provided direct links to the infringing content. While my first reports were processed, more recent ones remain unresolved, leaving my original work circulating without authorization.

Out of respect and professionalism, I also reached out directly to the accounts involved, asking them to remove my copyrighted material. Some ignored the request; others responded dismissively. Publicly addressing the issue has not resolved it either. As an independent creator, this has left me feeling unprotected on the very platforms that encourage us to share our work.

Because of the ongoing violations, I was forced to stop my paid promotions and restrict my own account activity to prevent further misuse of my content. This is counterproductive not only for me as a creator who wants to share her work, but also for Meta — a platform that was already being paid to promote that same content. It should not make more sense for creators to withdraw from sharing than to feel protected while contributing to the platform’s ecosystem.

I applied for account verification in the hope that stronger creator protections would help prevent ongoing misuse of my content. My request was denied within a day. At the same time, many of the tools that appear to offer stronger protection are now part of paid subscription packages. As an independent artist who is not yet generating income from my music and who does not have the backing of a major label, paying for basic protection of my intellectual property is simply not sustainable. Copyright protection should be accessible to all creators, regardless of financial resources.

This letter is not written out of hostility — it is written out of urgency.

Independent creators are the backbone of social platforms. We bring culture, stories, and audiences. We invest our time, creativity, and often our own finances into building communities here. In return, we need reliable and timely enforcement of copyright protection that does not depend on financial status, verification badges, or subscription tiers.

I am asking Meta to:

• Ensure timely review and enforcement of copyright reports submitted by independent creators.

• Provide clearer, accessible tools to prevent unauthorized downloading and reposting of original content.

• Strengthen transparency around verification and protection features so that emerging artists are not left behind.

• Recognize that creative work — regardless of follower count or revenue — deserves equal protection.

I will continue creating, sharing, and standing up for my work and for the rights of independent artists everywhere. I hope Meta will demonstrate that it stands with creators not only in words, but in action.

Sincerely,

An Independent Artist

Lily Amis (Instagram: @LilyAmisMusic)

www.LilyAmis.com

“Respect original creators. Support the source.”

🔒Bandcamp and how downloads unlock full access while supporting independent music!

Dear listeners,

You may have noticed that the 15 tracks on my album 0098SOS and the 6 tracks on my album Voice4Azadi are currently locked for streaming. This decision was not made lightly. Bandcamp is designed to support artists through downloads, but recently the album was being used mainly as a free streaming source, which goes against both the spirit of the platform and the respect for independent creative work.

To protect the music and keep sharing it sustainably, the full tracks will unlock once the album is downloaded. Thank you for understanding and for supporting independent art in a way that allows it to continue.

With appreciation,

Lily Amis

Liebe Hörerinnen und Hörer,

Vielleicht habt ihr bemerkt, dass die 15 Tracks meines Albums 0098SOS und die 6 Tracks meines Voice4Azadi Albums derzeit nicht mehr frei streambar sind. Diese Entscheidung ist mir nicht leicht gefallen. Bandcamp wurde geschaffen, um Künstlerinnen und Künstler durch Downloads zu unterstützen, doch zuletzt wurde das Album hauptsächlich als kostenlose Streaming-Quelle genutzt – was weder dem Gedanken der Plattform noch dem Respekt gegenüber unabhängiger kreativer Arbeit entspricht.

Um die Musik zu schützen und sie weiterhin nachhaltig teilen zu können, werden die vollständigen Tracks nach dem Download des Albums freigeschaltet. Vielen Dank für euer Verständnis und eure Unterstützung unabhängiger Kunst.

Alles Liebe,
Lily Amis

🌟Legacy’s Time Travel – Audiobook Series 4 English & German

 

🌟 Legacy’s Time Travel – Audiobook Series 4 (English)

Legacy’s Time Travel continues its journey through history with Audiobook Series 4, inviting listeners of all ages to explore the quiet power of dreams, kindness, and imagination.

As always, the story begins in a moonlit library, where glowing books wait to be opened. Legacy — a small King Charles Cavalier Spaniel with a very big heart — gently taps another magical book and steps once more into the flow of time.

In this fourth series, Legacy meets three unforgettable figures whose lives remind us that dreams are never meant to be carried alone:

• King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who built beauty in a world that did not always understand him

• Princess Diana, whose kindness created connection across borders and generations

• Walt Disney, who taught the world to believe in magic — and that dreams need both imagination and support to survive

Through warm conversations, gentle humor, and thoughtful questions, Legacy discovers a new layer of wisdom:

Dreams do not belong only to their dreamers.

Kindness creates connection.

And connection never truly disappears.

This series reminds us that legacy is not about titles, castles, or fame.

It lives in shared dreams, in quiet courage, and in the way one person’s light is carried forward by another.

To accompany Audiobook Series 4, the Legacy music journey continues with Song 4: Legacy – The Dreamers’ Light — a soundtrack inspired by the emotional heart of these stories. The music, like the audiobooks, is timeless and warm, created to be felt long after the last word does its work.

Whether you listen with your children, return to these stories on your own, or discover them as moments of reflection, Series 4 is an invitation to remember:

You never dream alone.

And we all can leave a legacy.

Welcome back to Legacy’s Time Travel. 🐾✨

🌟 Legacys Zeitreisen – Hörbuchreihe 4 (Deutsch)

Legacys Zeitreisen setzt seine Reise durch die Zeit mit Hörbuchreihe 4 fort und lädt Kinder wie Erwachsene dazu ein, die stille Kraft von Träumen, Güte und Fantasie neu zu entdecken.

Wie immer beginnt alles in einer mondbeschienenen Bibliothek, in der Bücher sanft leuchten und darauf warten, geöffnet zu werden. Legacy — ein kleiner King-Charles-Cavalier-Spaniel mit einem sehr großen Herzen — berührt ein weiteres magisches Buch und tritt erneut in den Strom der Zeit.

In dieser vierten Reihe begegnet Legacy drei außergewöhnlichen Persönlichkeiten, deren Leben uns daran erinnern, dass Träume niemals allein getragen werden müssen:

• König Ludwig II. von Bayern, der Schönheit erschuf, auch wenn die Welt ihn nicht immer verstand

• Prinzessin Diana, deren Güte Verbindung über Grenzen und Generationen hinweg schuf

• Walt Disney, der uns lehrte, an Magie zu glauben — und daran, dass Träume sowohl Fantasie als auch Unterstützung brauchen

In warmen Gesprächen, mit leisem Humor und achtsamen Fragen entdeckt Legacy eine neue, tiefe Erkenntnis:

Träume gehören nicht nur ihren Träumern.

Güte schafft Verbindung.

Und Verbindung verschwindet niemals wirklich.

Diese Reihe zeigt, dass Vermächtnis nichts mit Titeln, Schlössern oder Berühmtheit zu tun hat. Es lebt in geteilten Träumen, in stillem Mut und darin, wie das Licht eines Menschen von anderen weitergetragen wird.

Begleitet wird Hörbuchreihe 4 von Song 4: Legacy – The Dreamers’ Light — einem Musikstück, das aus dem emotionalen Kern dieser Geschichten entstanden ist. Wie die Hörbücher ist auch die Musik zeitlos und warm — geschaffen, um nachzuklingen, lange nachdem die letzte Seite umgeblättert wurde.

Ob ihr diese Geschichten gemeinsam mit euren Kindern hört, für euch selbst entdeckt oder als kleine Auszeiten nutzt — Serie 4 lädt dazu ein, sich zu erinnern:

Du träumst nie allein.

Und wir alle können ein Vermächtnis hinterlassen.

Willkommen zurück bei Legacys Zeitreisen. 🐾✨

✨Catwalk Lights: A Runway Music Album for Global Fashion Weeks!

Catwalk Lights: A Soundtrack for the Global Fashion Week Circuit

Every year, fashion moves faster than the world realizes.
By the time most people notice the collections, the industry has already walked on.

February is the heart of it all.

Within a matter of weeks, the global fashion circuit unfolds across Berlin, Copenhagen, New York, London, Milan, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai - a compressed, high-intensity season where shows, presentations, fittings, and fashion films happen almost simultaneously. Music in this environment must be precise, adaptable, and immediately usable.

Catwalk Lights was created for exactly this moment.

---

Music Designed for the Runway - Not the Charts

Catwalk Lights is not a traditional music album.
It is a runway-focused electronic collection, designed specifically for fashion shows, fashion films, and editorial presentations.

Each track represents a major fashion city, translating its rhythm, attitude, and movement into clean, catwalk-ready electronic sound. The music is built around controlled tempo (124–128 BPM), minimal vocals, and structured arrangements that support walking, pacing, and visual focus - without overpowering the collection.

This is functional fashion sound:
confident, restrained, and adaptable.

---

A City-by-City Fashion Circuit

The album follows the logic of the global fashion calendar:

• Berlin - raw, underground, techno-leaning control

• Copenhagen - minimal, sustainable, calm modernity

• New York - ambition, pace, and spotlight energy

• London - editorial edge and experimental structure

• Milan - luxury, tailoring, and quiet authority

• Paris - cinematic elegance and haute couture calm

• Tokyo - futuristic precision and conceptual clarity

• Dubai - modern opulence, scale, and global luxury

• Rome - heritage, architectural presence, and timeless design

• Pose To The Beat - an uplifting EDM track created for photoshoots

Each track is designed to stand alone for city-specific use, while together they form a coherent global runway system.

---

February Moves Fast - Music Must Be Ready

With most major fashion weeks concentrated in late January and February, designers and show producers don’t have time to search endlessly for music. They need tracks that are:

• pre-cleared

• professionally structured

• easy to loop, edit, and adapt

• internationally usable

Catwalk Lights answers that need by offering a curated, ready-to-use fashion soundtrack - created with the pace of the industry in mind.

---

A Universal Finale: Catwalk Lights

The album concludes with “Catwalk Lights”, a city-neutral runway track designed for universal use. Free of geographical references, it focuses purely on movement, light, and presence - making it adaptable for any show, presentation, or fashion film, anywhere in the world.

---

For Designers, Creatives, and Fashion Media

Catwalk Lights is created for:

• fashion designers

• show producers

• creative directors

• stylists

• fashion filmmakers

• music supervisors

It is not background music.
It is runway infrastructure.

---

Availability

The full Catwalk Lights album is available on Bandcamp, with individual tracks also accessible for city-specific use. All music is original, professionally registered, and available for licensing inquiries via direct contact.

When fashion moves at the speed of February,
music has to be ready before the lights go on.

Catwalk Lights walks first.

🗼Azadi Tower: From Shahyad to Freedom — The History Behind Iran’s Most Powerful Symbol

A monument built for a king, renamed by a revolution, and reclaimed by generations searching for freedom.

Some buildings are landmarks.
Others become witnesses.

Azadi Tower has stood through monarchy, revolution, silence, and resistance — changing names but never losing its presence.

Today it appears in reels, protests, memories, and art not because it belongs to power, but because people keep rewriting what it means.

The History of Azadi Tower: From Shahyad to Azadi

Few monuments in Iran carry as many layers of meaning as the Azadi Tower in Tehran.

For some, it represents national pride.

For others, revolution, loss, or resistance.

And today, it has become a visual symbol used by artists, activists, and storytellers trying to make sense of Iran’s past and present.

But what is this tower really — and why does it matter so much?

---

When Was Azadi Tower Built?

The structure was completed in 1971, during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. It was originally called Shahyad Tower, meaning “Memorial to the Shah.”

The monument was commissioned as part of celebrations marking 2,500 years of the Persian Empire. At that time, the Iranian government wanted a modern landmark that blended ancient Persian design with contemporary architecture — something that could symbolize Iran stepping into modernity while honoring its long history.

The young Iranian architect Hossein Amanat won a national competition to design it. He was only in his twenties when his vision became one of Tehran’s most recognizable structures.

---

What Was the Building For?

Unlike many towers, Azadi was never meant to be a defensive structure or an office building.

It was designed as a ceremonial gateway — a monument welcoming visitors entering Tehran from the west.

Beneath the tower lies a small museum complex and exhibition space. The underground halls were originally intended to showcase Iranian culture, history, and technological progress.

So in its earliest form, the tower functioned less like a skyscraper and more like a symbolic entrance to a modern nation.

---

The Architectural Meaning

One of the reasons Azadi Tower feels timeless is its unique fusion of styles:

• The curved arch echoes Sassanid-era Persian architecture

• The geometric lines reference Islamic design

• The clean white marble gives it a modern, almost futuristic silhouette

This blending of eras was intentional.

The monument tried to say:

Iran is ancient, Islamic, and modern — all at once.

That layered identity is exactly why the tower still resonates today.

---

From Shahyad to Azadi: The Name Change

After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the meaning of the monument changed overnight.

The name Shahyad Tower — tied directly to the monarchy — was replaced with Azadi Tower, meaning Freedom.

Even the surrounding square was renamed from Shahyad Square to Azadi Square.

This renaming transformed the structure from a symbol of royal power into a public emblem of revolution and national identity.

Ironically, a monument built to celebrate a king became one of the most recognizable backdrops for protest and political expression.

---

Why Azadi Tower Became So Symbolic

Azadi Tower sits at a crossroads — physically and emotionally.

Over decades it has been:

• A stage for state celebrations

• A gathering place for protests

• A landmark in state media imagery

• A symbol used by the Iranian diaspora

Because of this, the tower doesn’t belong to one narrative.

It carries multiple, conflicting meanings depending on who is looking at it.

For some, it represents hope and freedom.

For others, it represents promises that were never fulfilled.

---

Why Artists Keep Returning to Azadi

Today, many artists and creators use Azadi Tower in their work because it is instantly recognizable yet emotionally complex.

It is not just a building.

It is:

• a memory

• a witness

• a silent observer of decades of change

Using Azadi in visual storytelling connects personal expression to a larger historical timeline — which is exactly why it continues to appear in modern reels, films, and political art.

---

Final Thought

The story of Azadi Tower is not fixed.

It began as Shahyad — a monument to monarchy.

It became Azadi — a symbol of revolution.

And today, it stands somewhere in between: a reminder that architecture can outlive the meanings imposed on it.

Perhaps that is why it feels so powerful on screen.

The tower does not speak.

But everyone projects a story onto it.

🤐When Journalism Sounds Like Indifference: Why Many Iranians No Longer Trust BBC Coverage!

When Journalism Sounds Like Indifference: The Tehran Report That Broke Trust

There are moments when journalism does not feel neutral.

It feels empty.

Watching international coverage from Tehran during the regime’s anniversary, many Iranians did not feel informed - they felt erased.

The cameras were there.

The correspondent was there.

But humanity was missing.

---

Talking About Missiles While Ignoring Graves

Coverage focused heavily on nuclear talks, sanctions, and regional missiles.

Words like “security,” “stability,” and “geopolitics” filled the air.

But where were the stories of mothers searching for their children?

Where were the names?

Where were the faces?

When human suffering is reduced to a background detail behind diplomatic analysis, journalism stops sounding like witness - and starts sounding like strategy.

---

Reporting Tragedy Like the Weather

One of the most disturbing moments for many viewers was hearing the fact that some families must pay large sums to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones — delivered in a tone so calm it felt detached from reality.

Not outraged.

Not grieving.

Just… procedural.

As if describing rain or snowfall. 

This is not about dramatic performance.

It is about basic human weight.

When a journalist speaks about death without emotion, the message received is simple:

These lives do not change the story.

---

The Fight Over Numbers Is Not Just Statistics

Casualty figures remain deeply contested.

Official sources present lower estimates.

Independent accounts suggest far higher numbers.

But repeating the smallest figure without clearly emphasizing the dispute does more than inform - it frames reality.

For people who have buried friends and family, it feels like a quiet form of denial.

Not through lies, but through omission.

---

Why Some Iranians Say “Ayatollah BBC”

The nickname did not appear overnight.

It grew from years of frustration with coverage that many viewers feel mirrors state narratives more closely than lived experience.

Whether fair or unfair, the phrase reflects a collapse of trust.

And trust is journalism’s only real currency.

---

Neutrality Is Not the Same as Humanity

Journalists often defend calm delivery as professionalism.

But professionalism without empathy risks sounding like compliance.

Standing in Tehran, surrounded by tightly controlled imagery, speaking about politics while human suffering remains secondary — that is not neutrality.

That is distance.

And distance, in moments of mass trauma, can feel like betrayal.

---

This Is Bigger Than One Reporter

This is not a personal attack.

It is a question about a system where:

• Access to authoritarian regimes depends on careful language

• Human stories become footnotes to geopolitical analysis

• And the tone of reporting can unintentionally normalize brutality

When journalism becomes too cautious, it begins to resemble the silence it claims to observe.

---

Final Thought

Iranians are not asking foreign media to shout slogans.

They are asking for something far simpler:

Speak about the dead like they mattered.

When BBC senior correspondent Lyse Doucet reported from Tehran with a voice untouched by visible grief, many viewers did not hear neutrality — they heard indifference. Human loss sounded reduced to routine, delivered with the same calm cadence as a weather forecast while families were still burying their dead.