Iranians embrace anthem by AI singer created by UK-based, Iran-born artist

"Nava cannot be arrested, unlike the Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour, who was jailed after his song Baraye became the unofficial anthem for the 2022 protest movement. The character represented Iranian women, who cannot sing in public, Mehr said. I did it for the people, and I loved how they reacted to it, he said."

"From the blood of the youth, tulips have bloomed, Nava sings. The song, Javanan-e Vatane (Youth of the Homeland), features lyrics by the 20th-century poet Aref Qazvini, whose work called for resistance to authoritarianism and imperialism. It has been viewed 13m times on Instagram alone."

"People want to see themselves in this character. The brain tries to find a connection with the character, said Mehr. It has become the voice of the times we are experiencing. He said the blend of a classical Iranian song with a modern French folk melody had hooked Iranians everywhere, with more than 70% of the views coming from within Iran."

Farbod Mehr, a London-based artist of Iranian origin, created Nava, an AI-generated singer whose protest songs have resonated with millions of Iranians during 2026's brutal crackdowns and military conflict. Nava's song "Javanan-e Vatane" features lyrics by 20th-century poet Aref Qazvini and has accumulated 13 million Instagram views, with over 70% from Iran despite internet blackouts. The AI character represents Iranian women prohibited from public singing and cannot face arrest, unlike real singer Shervin Hajipour, who was imprisoned after his 2022 protest anthem. Mehr blended classical Iranian music with modern French folk melody, creating an emotional connection that transcends the artificial nature of the performer, making Nava the symbolic voice of contemporary Iranian resistance.

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