Inside Iran: 'Underground' Singer Belts Out Adele
TEHRAN, Iran Nov. 5, 2013— -- ABC News reports from Iran this week, digging into a changing country few Americans understand. His latest dispatch:
And there I was in Tehran jamming with an "underground" music group, in the basement of an apartment building.
The group's name is Accolade. Being "underground" means they don't have a municipal license to perform at officially sanctioned events. They still perform in front of audiences, but only at privately organized gatherings, some of which can be quite large.
FULL COVERAGE: ABC NEWS REPORTS FROM INSIDE IRAN
The band's leader, Daniyal, says being underground is an artistic choice, a way to maintain full creative control over his lyrics without having to conform to guidelines from others, including the government. There's also the issue of having a female vocalist, Azadeh Ettehad, perform solos, something that up to now has been taboo in Iran.
Despite not being able to perform in front of thousands of screaming fans at a stadium, Ettehad says she's happy in Iran and doesn't want to leave. She thinks it's important to fight for change – socially and culturally – and says it's only a matter of time before women are allowed to sing solos on their own.
And speaking of singing, man, can she belt it out. Above, she sings Adele's "Rolling in the Deep."
Follow along on our live blog and with #InsideIran on Twitter.
