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CMU Approved
Approved: Gola
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 12 November 2018
Although releasing her debut UK single now, Gola already has an impressive history behind her in her native Iran.
In a country where musicians must apply for government permits in order to perform, with women generally discouraged from taking to the stage, she formed Iran’s first all-female band, Orchid. They managed to receive government approval, but under strict conditions. They were only able to perform to other women and their audiences were barred from dancing or singing along.
Eventually, she came to the UK, ostensibly to study for a degree, but also with a view to making music without restrictions. Her debut English language single, ‘The Line’, is a strong piece of R&B-leaning pop, with a message about female empowerment that extends to its Hannah Marshall-directed video.
“I wanted a video that can help women understand how powerful they are”, says Gola. “The idea that they can have their eyes covered but still see, or have their mouths covered but still have a voice. This is a video about choice”.
“This track may be about the end of the line”, she goes on, “but this is just the beginning”.
Watch the video for ‘The Line’ here:
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