Morteza Darestani

Morteza Darestani began his musical path at the age of fourteen, when he first picked up the keyboard and quickly discovered an innate talent for playing entirely by ear, later learning to sing and perform at the same time with striking ease. As his passion grew, he deepened his knowledge through formal music education and expanded his skills to include drums, composition, and arrangement, allowing him to take creative control over his own sound. In 2000, after years of artistic development, Morteza Darestani released his debut official album Narafteh Az Yad with full authorization from the Ministry of Culture in Iran, and the album went on to rank among the ten best-selling cassettes in the country at that time. However, just as his public presence was growing, he faced sudden censorship: a video for Aroosako Bayad Dark Konam, aired twice on national television, led to him being banned in both voice and image, and eventually banned from singing without clear explanation. In 2008, he left Iran and began a new chapter abroad, first navigating the challenges of migration and later rebuilding his career in the United States. There, he continued to write, compose, and arrange much of his own material, releasing singles such as Aroosi and Junami and refining a style shaped by resilience, displacement, and unwavering dedication to music. Today, the name Morteza Darestani stands for an artist who has turned personal struggle into creative strength, carrying the sound of his story across borders and into the hearts of a global audience.