BIOGRAPHY

Elaha Soroor is a Hazara singer, composer, and activist whose music and message resonate deeply with global audiences. Born into a Hazara family from Afghanistan in Iran, Elaha grew up with a layered cultural identity, shaped by the resilience and challenges of her community in exile. Returning to Afghanistan as a teenager, she found music to be a powerful means of expression in a society where women’s voices, especially those of Hazara women, were often silenced.

Her career took off in 2009 on Afghan Star, where her fearless performances made her a household name but also exposed her to significant risk. As an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and ethnic representation, she faced threats that ultimately led her to relocate to the United Kingdom, where she has continued to develop her artistry and activism.

In the UK, Elaha has expanded her creative reach. Her collaboration with the music collective Kefaya resulted in Songs of Our Mothers (2019), an award-winning album reinterpreting folk songs traditionally sung by women of Afghanistan. Blending these ancestral stories with spiritual jazz, Indian classical, and electronic influences, the album garnered international acclaim, including a Newcomer of the Year award for Elaha at the Songlines Music Awards in 2020. Songs of Our Mothers brought global attention to the resilience and stories of the women of Afghanistan.

Elaha’s creative work also includes composing for theatre and film. She has contributed to productions like The Boy With Two Hearts and The Beekeeper of Aleppo, works that highlight the struggles and resilience of displaced communities. Through these projects, she bridges her musical and cultural expertise with narrative storytelling, bringing an authentic voice to these powerful stories of migration and survival.

Her collaboration with Roots Revival, a project focused on preserving traditional music, is another testament to her dedication to Hazara heritage. Reviving Hazara music and intertwining it with original compositions in Vienna in 2024, she introduced the music of her community to global audiences.

Most recently, Elaha created Bread, Work, Freedom!, an anthem made in collaboration with Al MacSween and Afghan rapper Sonita Alizadeh. The song’s title is inspired by the slogan used by Afghan women in protest of the Taliban’s oppressive policies towards women, including the closing of educational institutions across Afghanistan in 2021. This powerful song amplifies the voices of women calling for their rights and freedoms, symbolizing the courage of the women of Afghanistan facing severe oppression. Elaha’s work has become a symbol of resilience and solidarity, championing the strength of women and marginalized communities worldwide.
Through her art, Elaha continues to challenge oppression, celebrate the heritage of Afghanistan, and inspire women to reclaim their voices. Her journey embodies the courage to defy adversity and the transformative power of self-expression.

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Elaha has led several music workshops for women, children and refugees in collaboration with various organisations.

Elaha has also worked as a composer and performer for theater, dance and film projects including:
 

Llais Festival Presents: Flight of The Phoenix (2023) | Director, Composer and Singer 

Nottingham Playhouse's The Beekeeper of Aleppo (2023) | Composer

Wales Millenium Center's The Boy With Two Hearts (2021-2022) | Co-Composer & Performer
Agudo Dance Company (Silk Road) - Singer | English National Ballet (Giselle)- Singer | Dance and music of Afghanistan (Rana Gorgani)- Singer | The Breadwinner Film OST -(Singer) | Just Like My Son Film OST (Singer)