Dashni Morad

Having always wanted to work in television, in 2005, aged 19, Morad auditioned for her own show at a nearby Kurdish television station, where her concept was accepted.[1] The show, "Bê Kontrol", was the first of its kind in the Kurdistan Region to explore Western culture candidly.[1][2][5][6][7][8] Many people in the Kurdistan Region, particularly the youth, consider Morad to have broken down cultural and traditional barriers for young women.[1][5][6][7][9][10] The show aired for two years on Kurdistan TV, a major Iraqi Kurdish television network, and Morad soon became a household name in the Kurdistan Region.[1][8]

Morad had always dreamt of becoming a singer[21] and in 2008 she met a producer, Halkawt Zahir, whom she would eventually make three albums with.[22] In 2009, she began her music career with the release of her first album, "Hela Hupa", which although successful was also controversial.[1][2][5][6][7][10][20] The style of the album was considered as folk music with pop beats.[5][20] Her provocative dance moves in the "Hela Hupa" music video led media outlets to refer to her as the "Shakira of Kurdistan".[5][7][9][10][11] Although many of the younger generation appreciated her music and music videos, the more conservative side of society saw them as inappropriate.[5][7][9][11] A number of Imams preached against her at mosques and certain more conservative television channels boycotted her music videos.[6][9][11] At one point, she also received death threats.[1]

Morad persisted to make music with intentionally open Western themes.[1] In 2010, she released her second album, "Shika Wawa", which was boycotted by much of the television and media industry in the Kurdistan Region.[2][12] However, the first single released from the album, "Hom Shika Wawa", was more successful abroad, receiving significant airtime on the Arab world’s leading music channel, Rotana.[22] Fadi Haddad, the renowned Lebanese director, directed the music video for "Hom Shika Wawa".[22] It was the first time that an Iraqi Kurdish artist had a music video aired on a major international music channel.[22] Also in 2010, Morad presented "The Dashni Show", which was a talk show that openly discussed female issues such as romantic relationships, which is a subject that remains taboo in Kurdish society.[4][7][8][12]

In 2011, she released her third album, "Frishtay Mihraban", which was a much bigger success than her second album.[2] Later in 2011, well known for her kind-heartedness, Morad helped an Ethiopian maid, Maha, to become a singer in the Kurdistan Region.[2][21][23]

Having left her old producer, in 2012, Morad released her first English single, "Open Your Eyes", which was not only a hit in the Kurdistan Region, but also the wider Iraq, Lebanon and Holland.[1] In Holland, "Open Your Eyes" was number one for six weeks on FunX Radio’s XCHART.[24] "Open Your Eyes" was produced by Gary Stevenson and written by Goran Kay.[1] Morad was relieved that she was finally able to make the type of music that she wanted.[1] Later that year, In solidarity with the Syrian people, Morad recorded the song "Power of Love".[25][26]

This image shows us making the music video to Open Your Eyes.

Morad also in 2012, began presenting a new talk show, "Shepolakani Jiyan", or "Waves of Life", where she focused on education, women’s rights and environmental issues.[1]

In 2013, Morad and fellow artist Karwan Kamil were awarded a Golden Record for the Best Music Award 2013 by the Institute of Music in Duhok for their single "Binaz".[27][28] Later that same year, Morad collaborated with the Kurdish musical trio Le Dinê, to release the single "Take Me Home".[29] Also in 2013, Morad was offered a record deal by a Lebanese music label to release her album in 24 countries.[1] However, the deal collapsed after being sabotaged by her management team.[1]

In 2014, after further difficulties with her management team, she decided to leave them, and focus on her charity projects.[1]