SHAB Celebrates Empowerment and Liberation With New Music Video “Dance Til You’re Free”

Persian American pop artist SHAB returns with a powerful statement in her new single and music video “Dance Til You’re Free.” Taken from her sophomore double album ONE SUITCASE, the track blends infectious EDM and pop influences with a deeper message of empowerment, freedom, and resilience.

The video, premiering this Friday on YouTube, showcases striking choreography, dancers dressed in white to symbolize peace and purity, and a narrative that emphasizes individuality, women’s rights, and collective joy. Known for her electrifying performances across America and Europe, SHAB once again merges her artistry with activism, creating a release that is both a celebration of liberation and a call to embrace humanity without restriction.

Dance Til You’re Free” is both a song and a visual statement. What inspired the concept behind the video?

The concept for this video actually goes back to 2023, even before the song was fully finished. “Dance Til You’re Free” was one of the first songs I wrote where the title itself sparked the idea.

Growing up in Tehran, my five sisters and I would often have impromptu dance parties at home. It was our way of finding joy and escaping the harsh reality of fundamentalist oppression and wartime trauma. Music and dance became essential outlets for maintaining our sanity and imagining a different world.

That memory was so strong that I shared the video concept with my Creative Directors, Eli Sokhn and Richy Jackson, over a year before the song even existed. From the start, we wanted to show dance and music as a way to emotionally transcend oppression and negativity. In a way, the vision for the video existed before the sound of the song itself.

You’ve been outspoken about women’s rights and human rights. How do those themes shape the music you create?

I grew up in fundamentalist Iran, where misogyny and oppressive cultural norms were deeply ingrained. Even with my family trying to shield me, I couldn’t escape the messages that devalued women, independence, and femininity.

Moving to the West required a complete shift in thinking. It took years to unlearn those restrictive beliefs and embrace freedom, equality, and self-expression. That journey now informs everything I create. I don’t engage in partisan politics, but I throw myself fully into the universal struggle for human rights, women’s empowerment, and personal liberty.

The video’s choreography and symbolism are powerful. Can you walk us through your creative involvement in bringing that vision to life?

From the beginning, we knew the video had to culminate with my dancers casting off their veils - a metaphor for shedding oppression and embracing independence. While the choreography evolved organically with our team, the symbolic ending was always the heart of the story.

Initially, the video was going to be more overtly political, but for safety and broader accessibility, we kept it nuanced. The imagery still nods to my homeland, serving as a personal statement against the oppression of women everywhere, while keeping the focus on empowerment, freedom, and celebration.

As someone who grew up as a refugee and built a life in the West, how does your personal journey influence songs like “Dance Til You’re Free”?

My album ONE SUITCASE is a reflection of my journey—from fleeing fundamentalist persecution to fully embracing life in the West. Every track, including “Dance Til You’re Free,” is rooted in that transformation. It’s about resilience, freedom, and the joy of reclaiming your life after trauma. My experiences as a refugee shape not just the lyrics, but the emotion, energy, and spirit behind the music.

ONE SUITCASE is a deeply personal album. How does this single fit into the larger story of the project?

Every song on ONE SUITCASE comes from a personal story or reflection. “Dance Til You’re Free” expresses triumph over trauma and the journey toward personal fulfillment and liberation. At its core, it’s about life, liberty, and love—the essential things that drive me and, I hope, resonate with everyone who hears it.