Niloo draws upon the adventurous warrior spirit of a legendary forebear with her mesmerizing new single Nessa — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Gorgeous, smouldering and hypnotic, this pre-revolutionary Iranian pop tune offers a preview of the Victora singer-songwriter’s upcoming LP Sour Cherry. And it paints a rich portrait of an iconic character — and empowered badass — who journeyed through the mists of time to emerge as a role model and inspiration right when the singer-songwiter needed her most.
“For the most part, I grew up in rural northern B.C.” explains Ness. “It certainly wasn’t straightforward being a young, racialized girl growing up in a small town. Especially during a time of rising conflict with the Middle East. I often felt a bit alien and, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t fully fit into the ideals of western girlhood. Unfortunately at the time, the views of Middle Eastern womanhood were shrouded in pity and perceived oppression and powerlessness. There were no clear role models for me and it all made me feel a bit awkward and strange about my identity and place in the world.
“Fast-forward to a few years ago, when my dad — who loves to yarn about family history — revealed this long winding tale about a great-great-(great?)-grandmother; an ancestor from long ago whose life and character quite honestly sounded like the stuff of legends! Apparently, she owned a caravan service, personally transporting goods on camelback between cities in southwestern Iran. I listened in total absorption as my dad chronicled how she travelled armed alongside hired men, often fighting off highwaymen along the way. While her enterprise made her wealthy and powerful in her community, she also had many, many children. It’s said that every night at her house, there was an entire hen for every mouth at the dinner spread. Not bad!
“Fantastical or not, ever since then, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Here she finally was, the icon I had always hoped for! Mesmerized by the idea that I could be related to such a badass woman, I wrote this song. Nessa is a song about belonging. It’s about our connection through time and space to our ancestors. It’s about honouring our bodies because they tell the story of a past far greater than our own. And finally, it’s about Iranian womanhood: Powerful, enduring and bold.”
Niloo Farahzadeh is a musician, singer-songwriter, and visual artist whose work is as captivating as it is genre-defying. Based in Lekwungen Territory, Niloo blends shoegaze, dreampop, folk, and Iranian pop into a soundscape that feels both otherworldly and familiar, like stepping into a dream laced with nostalgia. Her music transcends borders, reflecting her rich cultural heritage as an Iranian-Canadian woman, while exploring themes of ancestry, migration, and diasporic identity.
Through her music, she creates a sonic space that honors her roots, weaving together elements of western psych, dreampop and shoegaze with the smooth, melodic rhythms of ’70s Iranian pop. Her work is deeply personal, offering a bridge between her past and present, and inviting listeners into an intimate exploration of memory and belonging. With every note and brushstroke, Niloo brings her unique perspective to life, creating a tapestry of sound that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the pull between different worlds.
Check out Nessa above, hear more from Niloo below, and venture into her world on her website, Instagram and Facebook.
