Cyprus: Meet Arash, one of the songwriters of the cypriot entry and Azeri act in Eurovision 2009
The Cypriot entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 will count with experts songwriters, with experience creating songs for Eurovision. Apart Alexander Papaconstantinou (Alex “P”) other profesional well-know in Eurovision is Arash, part of the azeri duo in Eurovision 2009, Aysel & Arash.
Arash Labaf, AKA Arash, born in Teheran (Iran) in 1977. When he was ten he moved with his family to Sweden,country where he lives currently. His musical career started after to finish the University, releasing in 2004 his debut single “Boro boro”, certified gold in Sweden. In 2005 the song was part of the Bollywood film, “Bluffmaster!”
“Arash”, his debut album, was released in 2006. The album, under Warner Music label, was certified Gold in four countries: Germany, Russia, Slovenia, and Greece .
These music works and “Temptation”, featuring Rebecca Zadig, became Arash a popular artists, entering on the European hit charts and their videos being airplay on more than 20 MTV outlets across the world. After that the singer and composer had more success, not only in Iran and Sweden, but also in a significant number of countries of Europe, like Russia, Ukraine, Grecia, Bulgaria, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Serbia or Poland, a country where is specially famous. His music also has reached the charts of Arab Midle eastern and Asian countries, having been Artist of the Month on MTV India. Actually counts in his career with three studio albums and more than twenty single released. Mainly she sing in his native language due to his “deep attachment to Iran and Persian culture”.
Being a footbal fan, in 2006, with the collaboration of DJ Aligator and Shahkar Bineshpajoo, performs “Iran Iran”, a song to support the participation of the the Iran footbal team at the World Cup 2006 . The song is part of the remix album “Crossfade”.
In 2009, “Always”, with Arash as one of the lyricists and composers, was chosen by the Azeri broadcaster, Icitimai TV, among 30 options to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest . Finally the song was performed by himself acompained of the young singer Aysel. Asked about to represent Azerbaijan in the contest he said “I’m originally Azerbaijani, and I would like to have a part in this country’s confident ascent in the history of Eurovision.”
The duo qualified for the final, reaching the third place. An anecdote of the participation in the contest occurred when they rehearsed: During the visit of the President Vladimir Putin to the venue he went up on stage to greet them.
The next year Arash repeated the experience as composer of a song for an Eurovision franchise. Alongside Thomas G:son, Robert Uhlmann and Johan Bejerholm produced the Swedish entry at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010, called “Allt jag vill ha” and performed by Josephine Ridell.
