by martina rexrode
photo by Joey Ng AKA 2WNTY4
Within a modern music industry and fan culture that searches high and low for the next big thing every week, it’s always refreshing to witness an artist come into their own authentically and organically. Darvishi is one such artist who just released her new single “Jelo,” a seamlessly bilingual track about pushing through self-doubt to rekindle your passions and inner joy. With her hypnotizing vocals and an instrumental that commands listeners’ attention, Darvishi presents herself as the Persian Pop Princess we’ve all unknowingly been waiting for. Unclear spoke to her about this single, her creative process, her artistic evolution from 2019 to now, and more.
Congratulations on your latest single! Can you tell our readers and your fans a little bit about “Jelo” and the meaning behind it?
Darvishi: “Thank you so much! ‘Jelo,’ or جلو, means ‘forward’ in Farsi, and the song is all about pushing forward and rediscovering your spark after moments of self-doubt. I wanted it to feel empowering, joyful, and impossible not to dance to. At its heart, it’s a reminder to keep moving forward, even when life tries to convince you otherwise, and to reconnect with the things that make you feel most alive.”
The lyrics to this track are presented in English as well as Farsi, highlighting your Iranian-American heritage seamlessly. When writing the lyrics to “Jelo,” how do you differentiate which lines you’ll deliver in which language?
Darvishi: “I usually don’t try to force either language into a song. I let the lyrics come naturally. With ‘Jelo,’ I knew from the beginning that I wanted the song to center around the word ‘Jelo’ because the whole message is about moving forward. From there, I followed whatever felt most honest. Sometimes a phrase just sounds better in Farsi or fits the melody and rhyme more naturally, so I’ll write it that way. Other times, the thought comes out in English, and I leave it in English. I’ve found that my best songs happen when I don’t overthink the language aspect and instead let my heart decide. That’s what makes the blend of English and Farsi feel authentic rather than intentional for the sake of being bilingual.”
What was the overall creative process like when creating this single? How did you work together with your collaborators to bring your vision to life?
Darvishi: “I actually started writing most of ‘Jelo’ at home. I recorded lyric and melody ideas in the voice memos app on my phone, and once I had a direction, I brought everything into the studio with my producer, Korey Keys. I also like putting together a playlist of sonic references before we start producing, so we had a shared vision for where we wanted the song to go. From there, we spent about a week experimenting with different ideas, and that’s one of my favorite parts of the process! Nothing is set in stone, and we’re always asking, ‘What if we tried this instead?’ For example, ‘Jelo’ actually started out as a slower song. Once we sped it up, though, everything clicked, and we knew we had found the version that captured the energy and message of the song perfectly.”
Do you tend to pull inspiration for your music from your own life, your surroundings, media you consume, or something else?
Darvishi: “I draw inspiration from a mix of places. Sometimes my songs come directly from my own life, like ‘Jelo,’ but other times I tap into my imagination and write stories for the Persian Pop Princess and wherever her journey is taking her next. I’ve always loved fantasy and fiction, so I’m constantly reading fantasy novels and watching anime, and those worlds definitely inspire my songwriting. When I was younger, I actually wanted to be an author and spent a lot of time writing short stories. In a way, songwriting lets me do the same thing! I just get to tell those stories through music instead. I love continuing to build the world of the Persian Pop Princess one song at a time. I’m also really inspired by the artists I listen to, especially Dua Lipa and Lisa (BLACKPINK). I love watching their performances and seeing how they create entire worlds around their music, not just great songs. They always inspire me to keep growing as a performer and to dream even bigger for what the Persian Pop Princess can become.”
Where did the inspiration for “Jelo” come from? How do you see listeners finding themselves within the lyrics?
Darvishi: “‘Jelo’ was inspired by a time in my life when I was questioning whether I wanted to keep pursuing music. Whenever I’m overwhelmed, I turn to songwriting, and instead of writing a sad song, I challenged myself to write the anthem I needed to hear. As I was writing, I realized the only way through self-doubt was to keep moving forward and surrounding myself with the things that brought me joy. I hope listeners can see a little bit of themselves in that, because I think everyone has moments where they lose confidence or feel stuck. My hope is that ‘Jelo’ reminds them to keep going and to rediscover whatever makes them feel most alive! Whether that’s music, dancing, spending time with friends, or something completely their own.”
For this release, you also teamed up with Koja Cafe in Westwood, CA to create a drink inspired by the song. Can you tell us about this collaboration and how this idea came to be?
Darvishi: “Yes! It was such a fun collaboration and I loved getting to work with fellow Persian creatives. I actually met Tara, the owner of Koja Cafe, at a pop-up she was hosting at Diyar Concept Store. I tried one of her drinks, loved it, and asked if she’d ever be interested in creating a drink inspired by one of my songs. She immediately said yes!
The following week, we started brainstorming ideas for a ‘Jelo’ drink and landed on an espresso or matcha drink with rose syrup, vanilla bean cream, and a scoop of pomegranate ice cream. It was absolutely delicious! Since Koja Cafe’s pop-up was at Saffron & Rose that day, they supplied the pomegranate ice cream, so it ended up becoming a collaboration between Koja Cafe, Saffron & Rose, and me. I’ve always dreamed of having a signature drink inspired by my music, so seeing that idea come to life was incredibly special. Getting to celebrate the release with fans at the shop made the whole experience even more memorable.”
How has your artistic identity changed since you first stepped onto the scene with “Taste Like Summer” in 2019?
Darvishi: “It’s changed so much, but it’s been such a fun journey! When I first released ‘Taste Like Summer’ in 2019, I was still figuring out who I was as an artist and I experimented with a lot of different sounds because I wanted to explore what felt most authentic. Over time, I realized the music I was most excited about was the music that embraced my Iranian heritage. Once I started weaving Farsi, Persian influences, and my own experiences into my songs, everything clicked. And it felt so natural that I knew I wanted to keep moving in that direction. Creating the Persian Pop Princess has also been a huge part of that evolution. It’s given me the freedom to blend storytelling, fantasy, and my culture into one world, and it’s become such a meaningful part of who I am as an artist today.”
When you picture your career another seven years from now, what do you see?
Darvishi: “I see myself performing on stages around the world and bringing the story of the Persian Pop Princess to life through my music. I’ve always dreamed of creating immersive shows with elaborate sets; like castles, Persian-inspired visuals, live dancers, and storytelling that makes the audience feel like they’ve stepped into another world. I want my concerts to feel like more than just performances. I want them to feel like an experience, almost like a musical or a fantasy adventure. And along the way, I hope I can introduce more people to Persian culture in a way that feels joyful, welcoming, and celebrates its beauty.”
