Why I Call Myself an Iranian-Judean Pop Artist (and Why People Search “Iranian Jewish Singer”)

Considering how much of a raucous I seem to make in the Iranian world, you might be surprised to hear how difficult it is to find me on the internet. People often search for me as an "Iranian Jewish singer," while I describe myself as an "Iranian-Judean pop artist." Both phrases point to the same place — my music, heritage, and identity — but they come from different angles in naming that experience. Ironically, if you call me a singer online (which I am)... you can't find me at all. And that's because I call myself something sliiiiightly different. Let's talk about why:

Why do I use the word "Judean" instead of "Jewish?" This might be one of my favorite topics... in an age where people are given more freedom to define their identities, I decided this one was the hill I'd die on. In 2021, I took it upon myself to get educated on world history (particularly in the Middle East) and put a hypercritical microscope on all leaders from all parties and all countries... and this is where I started to learn the concept of "decolonizing one's mind." It was all about searching for the truth, seeking honesty buried so deep beneath the rubble that falls when an oppressor comes hungrily knocking. I had been fed a bunch of lies about so many people, cultures, governments, world events... those who forced themselves into our lands controlled narratives and I wanted to unlearn it so I could see things clearly.

The next thing that inevitably followed was... I want to decolonize my tongue - my language. It's only natural that after so many wars, trade routes, and changing borders, our languages blend through cultural exchanges. For instance, the words, "kalbas, samovar, pirashki," the famous Iranian salad, "salad olvieh?" All of these come from Russia! How? Because Russian troops were stationed in Iran during World War I and the broader 19th–20th century. So though all those items feel integral to being Iranian, they were introduced to our culture through a cultural exchange.

Sometimes though... language borrows from others due to erasure. It is with no offense that nowadays I, like many Iranians, say "dorood" instead of "salām," or "sepās" instead of "mamnoon." A revival of language is a reclamation of pride in one's culture. It's the clearing of rubble that reveals the home you were meant to belong to this whole time. And that brings me to the word "Jewish."

Growing up in America, it was very weird for me to call myself "Jewish." Not because it wasn't who I am, but because it sounded so oddly different than the word I was used to hearing: "yahudi." Jewish is an English term that has been abused, mocked, twisted, and made fun of, even by some of our own looking to assimilate (wanna make Ashley mad? Pretend you're a comedian and say, I'm Jew-ISH.* Immediate eye twitch). But oddly enough, so many languages around the world use a pretty consistent variation of something else: Jude, Yehoodi/Yahoodi, Judeo, Judaico, Jzidó, Yudaya-jin.... and then of course there are the ancient Italians, Greeks, and Persians who still refer to us as the Hebrews (Ebraico, Evraíos, Ebrani - which I'll admit, I kinda like). Fun fact: Israelis call Iranians Parsi (the original name of the Persian language 5,000 years ago). Us old people - we see each other.

So where did Jewish come from? It's related to its Germanic cousin, Jüdisch. I think it's fair to say the emotional and social energy attached to the word feels shaped by centuries of antisemitism. (Also I want to add, us + Germans = modern day super-homies. Cheers to intentional and effective deradicalization). But you hear the similarity, right?

I don't know about you, but the word "Jewish" has always felt loaded to me, from childhood on. It unfortunately carries the burden of countless generations of hatred, redefined in energy by racists across all timelines (including this current season that seems to know no end). But in 2021, as I was "decolonizing my mind" and my language... I no longer wanted to identify with a word reframed by the language or ideology of an oppressor. No - "Jewish" is not inherently a derogatory term, but to me (not everyone) but to me... the sound of it alone detached me from the land we originally came from: Judea.

All the other terms for the Jewish people that are so similar to one another? They are so similar because they all mean "people of Judea." As an Iranian-Jew, my ancestors were both OG Persians and OG Judeans (Israelites/Hebrews). I descend from a very ancient tribe of both lands; from the earliest tribes of Persians as well as the oldest tribe of Jews in the world. Some say the way we pray and practice the culture is the closest to how it was done 5,000 years ago (imagine that). My DNA comes from Iran and... Israel?

Well now.. that also feels wrong to say because I'm not Israeli. Having DNA from Israel seems to suggest a more modern-day connection. Though yes Israel happens to be 5,000+ old, it's name has gone through a few changes. Though I love and have a deep connection to Israel, I don't relate to modern-day Israeli culture simply because I am Jewish... in the sense that I do not speak Hebrew and my favorite foods are not hummus and sabich (though heck yeah I love those things).

Levantinian was way too vague, but Israeli takes away authenticity from who Israelis are. So I decided to brand myself after the names of lands my family were exiled from at those times... Where modern labels feel too shallow for the identity continuity I experience, I chose a name that feels closer to the origin story I connect with. We were forced out of that land as Judeans, therefore, I carry that identity as a Judean frozen in antiquity but traveling through the modern-world (hilariously we do have this word in English but don't use it to describe the Jewish people... I don't understand). But I am an Iranian and a Judean - a lion-woman with ancient roots to early civilizations - and on top of that no... I am not just a singer.

I know people see a girl singing on the internet and you get branded a singer-only for life - but I am an artist. There is no shame in being an absolute bada$$ vocalist - it's just not a word that defines everything I do.

I'm a songwriter - I have been since I was 9. I'm a music producer. I compose arrangements, I direct music videos. I'm a dancer and a choreographer. I build marketing campaigns that invite people into an entire artistic universe rooted in my identity. People see me and say, "she's a singer" and might mean that I'm an artist - but just like "she's Jewish"... we have very different associations with the same words.

So I figured I would make it very clear who I am - because no one can define that for me. My roots, my culture, my identity, my languages? They come from lands called Ērān (Iran) and Judea (Israel). And yeah, I sing, but it's part of a greater world when you enter the Ashley Zarah universe, and that is something carefully made by an artist.*

Whether you find me by searching "Iranian Jewish singer" or "Iranian-Judean pop artist," you’re arriving at the same music. You may just be looking at who I am through a different lens. To me, language is powerful - how we choose to name things holds great meaning. These words translate who I am and paint the picture of where I come from, as well as create the intimate universe I warmly welcome you all into. <3