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Siavash Saadlou

Siavash Saadlou is a writer and literary translator. He has previously lived in Tehran, London, and San Francisco Bay Area. Saadlou holds an MFA in creative writing from Saint Mary’s College of California, where he was also a teaching fellow. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

19-year-old Amir Darabi at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

An Iranian piano prodigy. A big dream. And an arduous visa process.

Music

Amir Darabi was a child prodigy. He started playing the piano when he was 3 years old. Later, he felt there wasn’t enough competition in Iran. But for an Iranian, getting to the US is a Herculean task.

Chester Bennington of Linkin Park performs "Burn It Down" at the 40th American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, November 18, 2012.

Chester Bennington’s death is more than a headline for me

Music
Linkin Park's frontman Chester Bennington (L) and Mike Shinoda perform at a concert in Shanghai August 15, 2009.

A rock band from California helped me get through tough teenage years in Iran

Music