Navan has released his emotional ode to his country Iran
Persian-Canadian Pop/R&B artist Navan continues his rise as a global voice with “IRAN,” a deeply emotional release that channels his trilingual artistry and cultural roots into a powerful statement. At its core, “IRAN” is a song about pain, resilience, and hope, honoring a country that continues to stand despite loss and struggle. Through haunting imagery of Tehran’s shadows, tears, and dreaming hearts, Navan captures both grief and longing, balancing sorrow with visions of freedom and renewal. The accompanying visual—featuring projected moments of protest, endurance, and beauty—reflects his belief that these realities coexist. Dedicated to those fighting, healing, dreaming, and refusing to give up, “IRAN” is both a lament and a promise, amplifying a message that resonates far beyond borders: Iranian voices matter, Iranian lives matter, and Iran’s future matters.
Known for blending Farsi, French, and English into a modern pop sound, Navan has spent recent years building momentum through sold-out shows across Toronto and Los Angeles, standout performances in New York, Washington, and Montréal, and a massive digital presence with millions of monthly engagements. Following a breakthrough run of singles in 2025 and ahead of his upcoming trilingual EP Kisses on the Moon, “IRAN” marks a more reflective turn—one that underscores his mission to bridge East and West while elevating Persian stories on a global stage.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Navan. I’m a Canadian-Iranian pop and R&B artist based in Toronto. I write and perform in Persian, French, and English, blending the sounds of where I come from with the places I’ve grown up and lived in.
Music has always been my saviour, sometimes an escape. Through my music and writing, I turn pages of my diary into songs — everything I live and everything I experience. I truly love storytelling with melodies that mix the East, where I lived for 13 years in Iran listening to beautifully written ballads and powerful lyrics, with the rest of my life spent in Canada (Montreal and then Toronto), where I was introduced to legends like Aznavour, Garou, and Celine Dion, as well as newer influences like The Weeknd and Harry Styles.
Over the last few years, I’ve been building a global audience through social media and live performances (which is what I live for). I recently released a song called Iran, which I’ll speak about in this interview, and I’ve completed my trilingual EP Kisses on the Moon, reflecting my experiences since deciding to pursue music full-time.
My goal is for people to feel the emotions behind a song, no matter what language they speak.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
Iran is my latest release, where I wanted to write a chapter of history through my music. Things are not going well back home. Iranians in every province took to the streets in early January to demand freedom. This sparked hope for those of us living abroad, as well as for those risking everything on the streets. A spark of hope lit by the idea of freedom — freedom from the oppression of a government that has deeply damaged a country that, less than 50 years ago, was one of the most powerful in the region.
That hope was soon replaced by fear when the internet was shut down. Days later, we learned that thousands had been killed to silence them, shattering dreams and taking lives.
This was deeply devastating for me — seeing people my age, and even children, losing their lives. I felt I needed to write a song entirely in Persian, telling exactly what has been happening back home so future generations understand the cost a nation can pay for freedom.
Walk us through your creative process when creating this song.
The verse of the song is inspired by the classic “Que C’est Triste Venice” by Charles Aznavour, where he speaks about how sad Venice is without two lovers together. I begin my song with the line, “How sad Tehran is,” describing shadows of blood over the city and its tall trees bending under the weight of its tears.
I actually wrote the chorus two years ago while flying to Dubai. The plane was crossing Iranian skies before landing. Because I am a singer, I am banned from entering my own country. As I looked down at Iran’s beautiful land, I felt overwhelming sadness. On that flight, I wrote the melody and chorus: “Iran, Iran…”
When the movement began, I felt compelled to complete the song. I wrote the rest of the lyrics with the goal of painting a vivid image of both horror and hope — the hope that tells us the end of this night is near.
In verse two, I reference a conversation with a close friend who participated in the protests. He told me two of his friends were killed in front of him. He said the numbers reported were inaccurate and that the number of people lost could be close to 100,000. That’s why I sing, “I heard 100,000 daffodils have withered.” In Iranian culture, red daffodils symbolize martyrs and those who have fallen.
The outro is my personal message: “Only one more step.” It reflects my belief and hope for a free Iran.
Now that the music is out, what does the road ahead look like? Beyond tours and videos, what’s one bucket list goal you hope to achieve with this release?
Artistically and professionally, the road ahead feels promising. I am currently in France finishing my EP and collaborating with international artists. My goal is to move people emotionally and give them an escape from a complicated world.
One of my bucket list goals is for this song to continue spreading on radio and reaching wider audiences. Thankfully, CBC has already started playing it in Canada, and others have followed. But my ultimate dream is to perform this song in Tehran one day — not in sadness, but in celebration, in a free city filled with joy, where people can live normal lives like the rest of the world, as they once did.
Every artist has a “lightbulb moment.” What was yours?
In 2022, I was invited to perform at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto for a sold-out crowd of over 15,000 people. Right before stepping on stage, my band leader asked if I was nervous. I told him no — I felt like I was home.
That was the moment I realized I want to perform on the biggest stages around the world. That’s what I work toward every day — performing in iconic venues like Scotiabank Arena, Wembley, and beyond. I truly believe I will make that dream come true.
If you curated a “Must-Listen” playlist of emerging Canadian artists, who would you include?
There are many artists I admire like Tate McRae and Charlotte Cardin, but I wouldn’t call them emerging anymore. At the top of my list would be Rubina, an incredible 20-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter with Persian heritage. She’s truly unique, and I believe she has a bright global future ahead of her as a Canadian-Iranian artist based in British Columbia.
Where can fans catch you live next, and what should they expect?
My next performance is in Toronto at The Great Hall on Queen Street on May 31st. Being on stage is when I’m at my happiest. I make sure everyone in the room — no matter what language they speak — feels included and connected. I teach the audience my choruses right there, and the entire space turns into one big choir.
We’ll also be announcing the Kisses on the Moon tour, with plans to go across continents — starting in Vancouver, traveling down the West Coast through San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, then heading to Europe with stops in Paris, London, Berlin, and more.
The future is live music. It’s global. And it’s inclusive.