ABOUT SHAB
ABOUT SHAB
A product of three continents, SHAB is a thoroughly American singer & songwriter. Gaining first attention in the Western Hemisphere during late 2020 as a "breakout star of the global pandemic," SHAB has registered three consecutive Number Two hits on the British commercial pop charts with her first three English language singles released during the 2020-21 COVID lockdown.
Her 2021 debut album, INFINITE LOVE, was met by immediate critical acclaim, with her unique electronic dance sound typified as “an energizing Global Pop that is both effortless and memorable.” And SHAB's breakout 2023 collaboration, VOODOO, with hip-hop legend Fat Joe prompted The Clout Magazine to declare during September 2023 the associated video as "Music Video Of The Year," exhibiting "a convergence of artistry and aesthetics is nothing short of epic."
EARLY LIFE
SHAB was born in Tehran as the youngest of 13 children in a family ravaged by the circumstances of post-revolutionary Iran. Her father, a principal within Iran's petrochemical industry, died unexpectedly when SHAB was approximately six months old, leaving her mother alone to raise her large family. The continuous socio-political turmoil and persecution that followed from the Iranian Revolution finally necessitated her family to flee for Europe when SHAB was eight years old, leaving behind the family's wealth in Iran and escaping for Germany with little more than suitcases.
SHAB attended boarding school in Germany until the age of fourteen, when she emigrated to the United States. As a result of this multicultural upbringing, SHAB is fluent in both Farsi and English as well as conversationally conversant in German.
Her mother eventually settled in suburban Baltimore, where most of SHAB's immediate family resides today.
CAREER BEGINNINGS
Following in the footsteps of her older brother Shahab Kamouei (a noted Persian American pop singer), SHAB initially began her entertainment career while singing in her native Farsi language under the stage name "Shabnam." She experienced some limited success during 2016 & 2017 with the Farsi single PAS CHI SHOD and the English-Farsi mix LOVE YOU.
During early 2018, SHAB sought to crossover as an English language entertainer and began working with two California-based producer-songwriters, Damon Sharpe & Eric Sanicola.
ARTISTIC OUTPUT
VOODOO
SHAB released her biggest hit yet, VOODOO with legendary hip-hop artist Fat Joe, during August 2023. The highly-danceable collaboration combined the lyrics from her first single, Spell On Me, as overlaid on the rhythm structure of Fat Joe's iconic Lean Back club anthem. The supporting video for VooDoo, again directed by Eli Sokhn, featured Fat Joe & SHAB on a Hollywood street scene movie set with 24 dancers and a cast of dozens of extras. The song has thus far broken into the Top 40 on both of Rhythmic Music & Pop Music charts during September 2023: and for much of the month following its release stood as the song most Shazamed on Apple Music. The song was also served by a host of remixes by Cutmore, AWOL, DMack, Kav Verhausen, Clubjumpers, Samantha XO, Coppermines, HXPETRAIN & Justin Credible.
INDESTRUCTIBLE
SHAB released her most involved song to date, INDESTRUCTIBLE, during May 2023. This anthem to individual female empowerment – co-authored by SHAB, Damon Sharpe & Eric Sanicola -- was again produced by Sharpe during the end of the pandemic of 2022. The video for the single, again directed by Eli Sokhn & choreographed by Richy Jackson, featured SHAB in a starkly futuristic setting as she engaged in dance routines with 16 dancers. An effort by Ray Rhodes serves as the most prominent remix of this 2023 release.
DOLCE VITA
During March 2023, SHAB released a new Latin-flavored single co-composed with Damon Sharpe & Eric Sanicola entitled DOLCE VITA. Again produced by Damon Sharpe, the supporting video for this single by Eli Sokhn was actually shot in SHAB’s hometown of Dallas and stands as an homage to the stylistic leanings of Federico Fellini’s iconic movie, “Dolce Vita.”
SEXUAL
During October 2022, SHAB released concomitant with her first overseas tour a remake of the 1990s dance hall hit SEXUAL, originally recorded by Amber. With the single produced by Damon Sharpe, the release of the single was followed by a supporting video shot in a dramatic black & white motif, with direction and visual stylings again overseen by Eli Sokhn & Richy Jackson. Remixes of SEXUAL by Sharpe, Ray Rhodes, Ogazumu, Until Dawn & Chris Cox issued during November 2022 and with other remixes by Soul Seekerz as well as Cahill & DTAG during February 2023. SEXUAL eventually became Shab’s fourth Number Two hit on the United Kingdom Commercial Club charts, rising to that peak position during February 2023.
SERENITY
The second single from the upcoming EUPHORIC album, SERENITY, was again co-written with Sharpe & Sanicola and released during July 2022. The video for this single featured actor/model Harry Goodwins as Shab’s romantic interest and was shot in the gorgeous foothills and beaches of Malibu. As of late November 2022, the single had risen to Number Four on the MusicWeek British Commercial Pop chart and with remixes by Ogazumo, Cahill & DTag and The Montceau.
CRISS CROSS
The first single from SHAB’s highly-anticipated second album, ONE SUITCASE, was released during June 2022 and again co-written together with her songwriting partners Damon Sharpe & Eric Sanicola. Once more, Eli Sokhn & Ricky Jackson orchestrated the direction & choreography for the supporting video for this single, which features a phantasmagoric and playful computer generated environment. Later that same month, remixes of CRISS CROSS by Morgan Page, The Riddler, Moto Blanco, Lugo & Beave were also released to various streaming platforms.
ACOUSTIC REVEAL
During March 2022, Shab released a three-song EP called ACOUSTIC REVEAL, featuring three of the songs appearing on INFINITE LOVE -- being WHAT I DO, SPELL ON ME and SKIN & BONES -- re-recorded in an intimate, unplugged format.
CONCERT FOR HOPE SUPPLY CO.
During October 2021 and as her first English language performance, SHAB held a benefit concert for the Dallas-based charity Hope Supply Co., which provides the essential needs of homeless children.
SHAB recruited a top-level cast of musicians, led by Gibson guitar idol Mike Manning (formerly, the longtime guitarist for Demo Lovato), to serve as her backing band and in a debut English concert performance that met with universal acclaim.
SHAB and her team decided to release the video footage from this 2021 concert as a series of performance videos beginning in February 2022 and will be releasing the full performance as both a full-length concert video and album during May 2022.
MUSIC TO MY HEART (FEATURING THE MARTINEZ TWINS)
The third single from SHAB’s debut album -- a remake of her MUSIC TO MY HEART featuring internet sensations the Martinez Twins of Barcelona -- was released during July 2021 (and together with a supporting music video). During the chart week ended 22 November 2021, this last of the three singles released from INFINITE LOVE became her third consecutive Number Two hit on the MusicWeek Commercial Pop chart in Britain. During April 2022, SHAB released remixes of MUSIC TO MY HEART by Dave Aude, Until Dawn, ORGAZUMU & Jesus Montanez.
INFINITE LOVE
INFINITE LOVE was released on 12 February 2021, with five of its songs co-written by SHAB. The album also included a cover of a Depeche Mode hit, HALO, from its 1990 album, Violator.
WHAT I DO
This second English language single was released during December 2020 in both audio and video formats. WHAT I DO was again co-written by SHAB with Sharpe & Sanicola, while the supporting video (with its obvious Tron influences) was once more directed by Sokhn and has generated more than two million views. As an audio track, WHAT I DO opened at #37 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 Indicators chart in America and during the first week of April 2021 also peaked at #2 on the MusicWeek Commercial Pop chart in Britain. During May 2021, SHAB released remixes of WHAT I DO by various DJs, including James Anthony, Mr. Boots UK & Royal Hustle.
SPELL ON ME
Her debut English language single, SPELL ON ME, was co-written with the award-winning team of Sharpe & Sanicola. Originally released during February 2020, the video for SPELL ON ME -- directed by Eli Sokhn with Mad Max stylings as shot in the California high desert and with choreography by the acclaimed Richy Jackson -- has generated more than two million views since its initial release. Thereafter the audio track of the song entered the MusicWeek United Kingdom Commercial Pop charts during October 2020 and peaked during November 2020 at Number Two. Remixes of SPELL ON ME by a variety of international DJs (including Ralph Rosario, KNAPPY, Joe Mas & Until Dawn) were released in March 2021.
REAL LIFE
Together with her partner, SHAB maintains her primary residence in Dallas (which houses her home studio) and has two children. She owns her own record label, Shabnam Music, through which she has released all of her English language music to date. During 1997, SHAB became a United States citizen and in 2014 became a Certified Yoga Instructor (but has never taught as such in a professional capacity).
SHAB & her partner are heavily involved with both Hope Supply Co. and The Kynect Foundation (dedicated to serving the needs of children, military veterans & civil First Responders).
LIFE & CAREER MILESTONES
“• Born in Tehran, Iran as the youngest of 13 children
• Father died when SHAB was only six months old
”
“• Moved to central West Germany, attended school in Kassel”
“• Moved to United States, with mother and remaining family settling in greater Baltimore”
“• Graduated from high school in Towson, Maryland
• Became United States citizen”
“• Graduated from Towson University with Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies & Marketing
• Briefly attended law school at Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida”
“• First began dabbling in songwriting and recording”
“• Returned to greater Baltimore, where for a number of years SHAB abandoned music and mostly helped with family’s various businesses”
“• Returned to musical efforts, with first recordings of Farsi songs”
“• Relocated to Dallas
• Continued recording new songs in Farsi”
“• Released first Farsi language singles, including PAS CHI SHOD and the Farsi-English pastiche LOVE YOU”
“• Began working with producer Damon Sharpe, with first English song recorded being DOWN TO THE WIRE (only released during 2021)”
“• Released first English single, SPELL ON ME (co-written with Sharpe & Eric Sanicola), as well as associated music video (directed by Eli Sokhn)”
“• SPELL ON ME reaches Number One on the Global Digital Music Charts and Number Two on the British Commercial Pop Charts”
“• Released second single, WHAT I DO (also co-written with Sharpe & Sanicola), and associated music video (again directed by Sokhn)”
“• Release of first English album, INFINITE LOVE, comprised of eight songs (five of which are co-written with Sanicola and/or Sharpe)”
“• WHAT I DO reaches Number Two on the British Commercial Pop Charts (behind Sam Smith at Number One.)”
“• Released third single, MUSIC TO MY HEART (FEATURING THE MARTINEZ TWINS), together with associated music video (again directed by Sokhn)”
“• MUSIC TO MY HEART reaches Number Two on the British Commercial Pop Charts (behind Ed Sheeran at Number One but ahead of Shakira at Number Three)”
“• Began releasing video performances from her CONCERT FOR HOPE SUPPLY CO. benefit, held during late October 2021.”
“• Released ACOUSTIC REVEAL in both audio & video formats.”
“• Released first single, CRISS CROSS, from her second album, EUPHORIC, in audio & video formats.”
“• Released second single, SERENITY, from the EUPHORIC album in audio & video formats.”
“• Announced her first international tour as the opening act for Anastacia, beginning October 1st in Ulm, Germany and closing on November 15th in Glasgow, Scotland.”
“• Released SEXUAL in audio & video formats.”
“• Released DOLCE VITA in audio & video formats.”
“• Announced her second international tour as the opening act for Boyzlife, beginning in Plymouth, England on May 13th and ending in Tunbridge Wells, England on May 27th.”
“• Released INDESTRUCTIBLE in audio & video formats.”
“• Released VOODOO, with Fat Joe, in audio and video formats.”
“• First arena performance, in Mexico City at the WTC Pepsi Center.”
“• Begins an 18 arena tour of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales & England as the supporting act for the legacy British boy band, JLS.”