Before SHAB ever stepped into a recording studio, music lived in the middle of chaos.
The Iranian-American pop singer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist remembers being a child in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, listening to the Jackson 5 and ABBA while bombs fell outside. Her mother cooked. Her family danced. The living room became a shelter made of rhythm, memory and defiance.
“We were just dancing and kind of putting ourselves in a little bubble,” SHAB told Newsweek. “Music helped me cope with hardship, loneliness, all of it.”
For SHAB born Shabnam Kamoii in Tehran, the path from refugee child to international pop artist has been shaped by displacement, family, faith and an enduring belief in the power of self-expression. Her story began in a country where freedom felt fragile, then moved to Germany and eventually America, where she built a life around music, motherhood, entrepreneurship and advocacy.
A Childhood Soundtracked by Survival
SHAB’s earliest memories of music are inseparable from family. Older siblings introduced her to disco, soul, jazz and pop, giving her a musical education beyond her age. Whitney Houston, Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Ross helped form the architecture of her taste, while Middle Eastern melodies stayed close to the surface.
“Every stage had its own meaning for me,” the global pop star recalled. “My brothers and sisters are older than me, and I was listening to all kinds of music.”
Those influences now appear in songs built around pop hooks, dance production and Persian textures. Blending those unique inspirations helps her develop her own sounds that easily navigate through the concepts of genre.
“I didn’t want to ever put myself in a box,” she said. “I just wanted to be free.”
Starting Over, One Decision at a Time
SHAB did not enter music through the traditional route. She was already a mother and a cemented career-woman when she decided to pursue the dream seriously, a choice she describes as urgent and unavoidable.
“I was like, ‘I gotta follow my dream,'” she said. “If I don’t do this, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”
Her husband, Rob, encouraged her to explore the industry, even though he had no music contacts. SHAB began searching online and found Grammy-winning producer Damon Sharpe, who became part of the creative team around her. Choreographer Richy Jackson later joined that circle, helping shape the movement and visual identity around her songs.
“I found my people,” SHAB said. “I love my team like my family.”
Faith, Fashion and the Business of Confidence
SHAB describes her work ethic through faith. She says prayer, gratitude and service guide the way she moves between music, family life and business ventures.
“I wake up, I’m like, ‘God, just fill me in. Help me change lives, add value,'” she said. Fashion, for SHAB, works alongside music. She sees clothing and stage presence as tools for confidence, each one helping listeners and viewers step into a stronger version of themselves.
“It’s the confidence,” she said. “It’s the way you walk, it’s the way you talk when you’re wearing something.” That feeling of empowerment carries into her fashion label DropTrou. The brand seeks to give women a fashionable and functional jumpsuit that builds the wearer’s confidence without compromising practicality.
Her upcoming single, “Perfume,” she said, leans into female empowerment and individuality. The idea, she explained, centers on the invisible signature a person leaves behind.
“I want my fans to be inspired and embrace their individuality,” SHAB said. “Feel their power.” The flirty pop anthem meshes infectious melodies with poppy sensibilities and subtle Persian textures.
World Refugee Day and a Message of Resilience
Instilling power and confidence in her audience through music is a key pillar for the songstress, especially for the downtrodden and forgotten transplants of the globe. Reflecting on World Refugee Day, which falls annually on June 20, SHAB evokes memories of home, loss, and renewal. She remembers the resilience required to arrive in a new country, learn a language and rebuild a life through unfamiliar systems.
“You gotta find a new home,” she said. “Then you gotta learn the language. You have to figure things out.”
SHAB has often spoken about fleeing Iran as a child and later arriving in the United States after time in Germany. The entrepreneur and vocalist says she feels deep gratitude for the freedom she found in America, while holding her Persian identity close.
“I call myself American,” she said. “My first flag is an American flag, then a Persian flag.”
The singer-songwriter knows all too well about the struggles of completely rebuilding life from the ground up. Even in the face of global tumult, SHAB offers a simple but resonant message to refugees: keep going, seek community and hold on to hope. “Don’t give up, stay strong,” SHAB said. “Your time will come.”
Music as a Place to Belong
Music holds a sacred place for SHAB. It serves as her strength and helped to forge her tight-knit community. It helped her family endure war, gave her a language for confidence and now serves as a bridge between her past and her present.
“When you’re mad, dance,” she said. “When you’re sad, dance. When you’re angry, dance. Just dance through life.”
She also hopes her songs remind listeners that their power is already present.
“When you love yourself, everything falls into place,” SHAB said. “Be the light.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.newsweek.com ’
