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For having such tremendous talent for singing, NooshAfarin actually began her professional career as an actress. At the age of 16, while working in Tehran and going to school at night, she spotted an advertisement from Payam studio in a newspaper requesting auditions from young women aged 18 to 20 years old.
Taking a chance, she went to the auditions and Mirlohi, the director chose NooshAfarin from hundreds of other women to be his next great talent. She immediately began her work as an actress, and over the next two years she made 12 movies while working with such acclaimed actors as Naser Malek Moteii, Behrooz Vosooghi, Saiid Rad, Beyk Imanverdi, Manouchehr Vossogh, Bahman Mofid and Morteza Aghili. But NooshAfarin always dreamed of becoming a singer.
Music was her first passion, and the money and notoriety she earned as an actress helped her to realize her true desires. At one point, NooshAfarin was introduced to Fereydoon Khoshnood, a musician who was just beginning his career as well. The two young artists agreed to work together and soon her first song "Ghebleh" was made. It was heard on Fereydoon Farokhzad's show, "Mikhak Noghreyi." From that point on, NooshAfarin would be known as one of Iran's top female vocalists. She says she can never forget Khoshnood.
"I will always be grateful for the kindness, help and inspiration Khoshnood showed me. I could not have done all this without him, and I want him to know that all the songs I sing are a gift from me to him." NooshAfarin had 27 hit songs before leaving Iran for India in 1986. There, she learned and loved the Indian culture and music. She also learned the language, and discovered the joys of living simply. "The Hindi people are very good in nature, very thankful for what they have. I have always been moved by their music," say NooshAfarin. Her dream is to return to India one day and make an entire CD in Hindi.
In 1990, she pulled up stakes once again and headed for Canada, where she eventually settled in Toronto. Although she found many friends and colleagues there, she never allowed herself to sing professionally until one day when her desires grew to be too strong. Wanting the support of a larger Iranian community, she moved to Los Angeles in 1994. "This is where many important Iranian companies and Iranian media are, so I felt I needed to be in Los Angeles," says NooshAfarin. And after so many years of silence, her voice has remained just as sweet as it ever was. "When I stepped back into music after 17 years off, I felt like a new singer. It felt very good." Although a bit sad that she had to travel so far away from home to do what she loves the most, she has enjoyed tremendous success with her first four CDs. Her fifth CD will be released in December, 2000. NooshAfarin is grateful to her new friends, and she wishes to thank Mehdad Zand Karimi and Ahmad Massoud for the production of "Dokhtareh Shaheh Pariyan"; Koji Zadoori for the videos he's produced; and Brian Wayy for the wonderful arrangements of her songs. |
