An Interview with Hamid Hirad

• Please give us a brief introduction of yourself, your biography, and your journey into the music industry.

I am Hamid Hirad, a singer and composer. I have been playing instruments such as the tonbak, daf, percussion, setar, tar, santur, tambour, dotar, piano, guitar, and more academically and professionally since the age of 6. I have also taught these instruments. At the age of 13, I entered the world of singing and received training alongside great masters.

• Pop music is the most widely enjoyed genre in Iran. What led to your interest in this genre? Which artists have inspired you?

The pop style, based on its name, which means popular, encompasses all levels of society, and in my opinion, it is not a matter of public favor. Our people are so cultured and intelligent that they can rightly distinguish between good and bad and place great value on the music they listen to.

My field of musical activity has been in traditional music, and I wanted children of a young age to older individuals to be able to enjoy music while preserving the identity of my country in all the works I created. My auditory role models have been Master Benan, Ghamar al-Molouk Vaziri, Abdol Wahab Shahidi, my dear late Master Shajarian, and singers like Shadmehr Aghili and Nasser Abdollahi have been great examples for me!

• Your music audience knows your style as a different take on pop with a traditional approach. What is your opinion?

Due to the nature of the music and singing I have been trained in, my voice is inherently suited for traditional music. However, combining it with today’s atmosphere and pop seems to me to be an innovation that is not easy and requires years of effort.

• Many young people envision a complicated path to enter the Iranian music industry, considering the large number of singers in this genre. Do you believe this to be true, and how did you navigate this path?

Several years before a person named Hamid Hirad existed, I dedicated all my abilities and artistry to the work I believed in. My main goal was and still is to improve people’s well-being through the music I provide. Today, my only goal remains the same. In my opinion, the first thing that can help them is simply having a goal and fighting and striving to achieve it.

• Can you describe how your success in music, including the high concert sales, unfolded? Did transitioning from the world of music studios to the concert stage create a stressful environment for you? Explain this atmosphere to the audience.

Naturally, you are stepping into two different worlds. The studio space is for music production and identifying the audience’s target market and auditory value. At the same time, the concert is the place to see and get feedback on all the efforts made in the studio… And the most significant part, with all the difficulties, stresses, and pressures, is that you are a factor in improving people’s well-being, which is the most beautiful goal of a singer.

• Undoubtedly, the success of popular music often stems from the collaboration between producers and lyricists with singers. Which songs do you consider the most popular, and which producers have you had memorable experiences with?

In my opinion and that of the people, the songs “Shokhie Mage,” “Mastam Kon,” “Nimeh Janam,” and “Enferadi” are among those that will remain in the hearts of my dear people for years. For me, being alongside Master Shajarian, Master Alireza Ghorbani, and Master Abdoljabbar Kakaei is invaluable.

• How do you see the current state of our music? Is the music industry growing due to the emerging singers and the development of music in the digital space?

In my opinion, the current state of music in Iran is experiencing a significant and profound leap. Singers with high abilities at any level and innovation in composition are taking their place over the older generation of musicians. I believe our music is undergoing a major transformation. Absolutely, new singers and all the old greats are making significant efforts to ensure that the music of Iran is worthy of the people of this land.

• Iranians tend to gravitate toward artists and their soundtracks from movies and TV series. Have you had this experience? Does entering this field require relationships beyond the professional norms of music?

Yes, I have had such an experience in the field of credits, and it doesn’t require any special connection to produce these works and to be in the space of cinema and imagery.

• Which album or song do you consider to be your most successful? In public surveys, the songs “Shokhie Mage” and “Nimeh Jan” have been among the most popular of your music. What is your opinion? (Please provide explanations regarding your released albums.)

I have songs like “Shokhie Mage,” “Nimeh Jan,” “Enferadi,” “Mastam Kon,” “Khoda,” “Zibaye Man,” and “Ey Bikhabar”…. Well, these two works were produced under special circumstances and had a significant impact on Iran and Iranians.

• What is the next step for you? Do you have any future plans regarding new albums, concerts, and collaborations with artists or brands?

Regarding future plans, the music is the first thing that is important to me. That’s why I focus on producing new songs, exploring more modern styles, and blending them with lyrics and melodies that can uplift people’s spirits. My new album will be released soon, and I think it will be an exciting event because the format and style of the concerts will change significantly. Songs that people have loved for a long time will be combined with new albums and songs to provide a better experience for the audience.

• Can you please share your opinion regarding the effects of artificial intelligence on music production? Do you evaluate these effects as positive or negative?

There is a beautiful coincidence regarding artificial intelligence. Still, we are used to creating a new space and making it viral, and then we start cultivating a culture around that topic! There was an exciting event in the music space where a singer heard their voice mixed with sounds that our generations have memories of. However, sometimes, because these works have creators and many people have put in effort, sometimes the AI-generated version of the song is streamed more than the singer’s original song, and no one would know who the original creator was. This leads the singer to think, “Well, why should I even do this?” The worst destructive effect, in my opinion, is not for singers who have more experience and whose goal is not this, but rather that if a song is produced by a singer and heard through AI, that singer might think, “I have become famous now.” They will not make any effort to create higher-quality songs. But it has been said since ancient times that the pine tree does not care about the cold and warmth of the seasons; it always remains green and grows.

• Can you kindly invite today’s youth, who intend to start a path like yours, with an important sentence as a keepsake?

Love is beautiful and sanctified. In my opinion, one should first aim for the goal, then strive to achieve it, and finally, not work for fame and money so that one can always be present in the hearts of all people.