DELARAM ZAVAREI
FROM BUSINESS MOGUL TO MUSICAL MUSE
THE REMARKABLE STORY OF A DYNAMIC SINGER AND BUSINESS LEADER
Delaram Zavarei is more than just a public figure and media personality; she embodies resilience and passion. Residing in the UK, Switzerland and UAE, Delaram’s life story intertwines her entrepreneurial spirit with an unwavering love for music. A seasoned businesswoman, she has weathered numerous ups and downs throughout her career. Eventually, she rediscovered herself by nurturing the artist within. Today, she enchants the world with her magical voice and captivating songs.
Delaram Zavarei, the formidable owner of ENEXD Group companies that were established since 2005. The Energy Exploration and Development Company Ltd, abbreviated as ENEXD, serves the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, offering a comprehensive range of products and services. These span across Engineering, Procurement, Drilling operations, and associated Services for both Onshore and Offshore undertakings. We had the privilege of sitting down with Delaram to explore her remarkable journey in an exclusive interview with team MAGNAV.
Everyone’s journey in life is unique and often incomparable to one another. However, we all share the ever-evolving nature of life at every stage. Ironically, when I completed my university degree, I thought I knew exactly who I was and what I wanted. It took years to realize that regardless of age, there is always unrealized potential and numerous aspirations yet to be achieved.
THE REMARKABLE STORY OF DELARAM ZAVAREI A DYNAMIC SINGER AND BUSINESS LEADER
I was born into a highly academic family, but my parents were deeply in love with music. My father, a skilled violinist, started playing the violin in his early childhood and even built his first violin at the age of ten. My mother was also passionate about music and loved singing. This profound connection to music is a common thread in my paternal family. My brother is both a pianist and guitarist. We owe our musical upbringing to my father’s dedication, who took us to a music tutor every week for more than a decade. However, this deep-seated love for music subsided when I went to university, got married, and became a mother and businesswoman.
About six years ago, my life turned upside down. Everything I had built seemed to crumble, and I found myself on the verge of losing everything. This turmoil was closely tied to my successful businesses, which I had built since 2000.
As a successful female entrepreneur in male-dominated Iran, my career success raised many eyebrows, and soon I faced orchestrated attacks from multi-billion dollar government-funded organizations. It was overwhelming to be under such malicious efforts not only to pause me but also to strip me of everything—my integrity, family, assets, confidence, and health.
At this lowest moment, I was at a crossroads: give up and get crushed by the events or switch to survival mode and rise stronger than ever. At this juncture, music, particularly singing, became my elevator to happiness and strength. Singing was not about attaining fame but expressing my feelings and healing my wounds.
Two things kept me going and growing stronger. First, my ability to manifest what I need more than what I want. Second, the calmness and energy I always felt by singing. We are all manifestations of our inner beings, and it depends on who we are and who we want to become.
The first and foremost precondition to succeed in life is to forgive yourself and others, freeing yourself from the past’s fear and anger. This pursuit leads to happiness, health, and ultimately wealth. The combination of solid manifestation and passion for music reinvented me, making me feel invincible, unbeatable, and unbreakable, no matter how hard adversaries tried otherwise. Now, every day, I am the creator of my life, not the victim. I have learned to turn challenges into tools for recalibration and re-launching myself stronger. The key is to reform your inner self so the
external world doesn’t impact you constantly, allowing you to impact the world around you. Even small positive impacts should give you a sense of appreciation, manifesting true joy.
Recent times taught me to manifest myself and realize that I am my most precious asset. True, my enemies could take away, steal, and freeze all my assets, but they could never take over my soul and life. Initially, I was shocked and deeply depressed. It’s not easy to witness the loss of your company’s assets and your safe right to return to your own country, where you were born, raised, and fell in love.
My enemies published false accusations against me and did everything to tarnish my reputation. Friends and business partners turned their backs on me in fear of losing favor with the Iranian regime. The weight of the world felt like it was on my shoulders, and I was tearful every day. Then, I felt a longing to sing, to express my deepest feelings. Ironically, the more I sang, the stronger I became. Singing empowered me to fight back and pursue my rights in both music studios and legal courts.
I am immensely grateful to my incredible team, with whom it has been a pleasure to work. The most inspiring aspect is that none of us ever had set goals. We never felt the need to work restlessly to meet deadlines. Instead, it felt like a spontaneous journey of like-minded artists sharing the same taste in music and lyrics. They are a constant source of inspiration.
Some of my most memorable collaborations have been with my musical composer, a wonderful and down-to-earth person whose musical knowledge and talent make working with him truly transformative.
I challenge the premise that music isn’t my profession. Since I started music professionally, this passion has become the most effective force in pursuing my business goals. Singing has massively strengthened my resolve to fight back and regain my assets. I don’t differentiate between my love for music and my business endeavors. The daily routine of singing and preparing for my next album provides the balance I need to stay upbeat, focused, and successful in other areas. It’s both easy and difficult to advise others on dealing with their challenges. Everyone’s life is filled with never-ending obstacles and issues. The best way to handle these challenges is to expect less from others and more from yourself. I don’t believe in failure—you either win or you learn.
Life isn’t like making a movie where any wrong shot can be re-taken. It’s more like theatre, where if any scene goes wrong, it’s done, and the show must go on with the best act we can offer. Believing in yourself and your ability to overcome is the essence of not only survival but also thriving and coming back stronger.
I feel privileged and blessed to have lived in various countries. I lived in Dubai for many years in the 2000s, grateful for the opportunity to pursue my higher education in the UAE and complete my MBA there. In Switzerland, I made my best friends who stood by me during my toughest times. As for the UK, although my residency coincided with false legal cases, it now feels like home, and I enjoy it more every day. If we focus on the obstacle, all we see is the obstacle.
If we focus on the path through the trees, all we see is the path through the trees. It’s all about perception. The universe will put us in the same situation repeatedly until we learn to react and think differently until we learn that enough is enough. Old habits do not open new doors; we must eliminate to evolve.
My childhood was during the early years of the Islamic Republic when many types of music were banned. Listening to pop music, for example, was not permitted, and everyone bought and listened to pop music secretly. Women were banned from playing music or even singing publicly. This official taboo deepened my passion for music and singing. But I never imagined becoming a singer and feeling so relaxed and confident in producing my label.
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I divide my life into before and after 2018, when powerful organizations tried to ruin my life. Prior to 2018, the pivotal moment was learning I would be a mother in 1998, leading a fulfilling life for 20 years. However, in 2020, after suffering political and legal attacks for nearly two years, I reached a critical point. The pain exceeded my tolerance, and I was on the edge of giving up. Exactly then, I realized singing was my healing force, my most pivotal moment. Singing helped me relax, forgive, forget unpleasantness, and embrace joy and happiness.
Life is like a train with passengers hopping on and off. It’s crucial to choose your co-travelers wisely and not be affected by those who leave. Crisis situations help filter out unworthy factors and people. Such times test true friendship and loyalty, valuable discoveries. I am privileged to have the most loving and supportive family, without whom I might not have overcome the challenges thrown my way. I have a list of exciting musical projects in the pipeline, which will be produced and released gradually. Professionally, I am focused on reclaiming my stolen assets and have reestablished my business in the UK with a broader scope and ongoing fruitful projects.
Delaram Zavarei’s journey is one of resilience and renewal, with music as her guiding light. Despite the challenges, she has emerged stronger, finding solace and strength in singing. Her experiences have taught her the importance of self-belief, embracing true friendships, and pursuing passions with unwavering determination. As she continues to create and perform, Delaram looks forward to the future with hope and confidence, grateful for the lessons learned and the unwavering support of those who stood by her.
