Helen Abdulla (Kurdish: هێلین عەبدوڵڵا; born 16 November 1988), better known by her stage nameHelly Luv (ھێڵی لۆڤ),[1] is a Kurdish[2] singer, dancer, choreographer, actress,model, She rose to fame after uploading cover videos on social media websites likeMyspace andYouTube. Helly Luv has since starred in movies, music videos and has released her own material. Gaining popularity from her 2013 single "Risk It All", Helly Luv has recently signed to G2 Music Group.[3][4] In 2014, she appeared in her first theatrical feature film,Mardan.[5]
Helly Luv | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Helen Abdulla (1988-11-16)16 November 1988 (age 36) Urmia,West Azerbaijan, Iran |
| Nationality | Kurdish |
| Citizenship | Finnish |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
|
| Website | www |
Personal life
editHelly Luv was born to aKurdish family during thePersian Gulf War in the city ofUrmia,Iran on November 16, 1988. Her family escaped the city ofDohuk inIraqi Kurdistan by fleeing toIran, where she was born, and suddenly toTurkey for safety. Eventually Helly Luv and her family's application was approved to become citizens ofFinland, allowing her and her family to be one of the first Kurdish immigrants to live there.[6] She took an interest in singing in a neighborhood choir and then expanded her interest by playing the piano, and taking drama classes. She began performing in school demonstrating her singing and dancing abilities. Dancing became her primary focus and afforded her an opportunity to compete in European dance championships and soon signed a contract with Finland'sNike Women.
Career
editIn 2006, Helly Luv moved to Los Angeles, California, United States on her own to pursue her dream. Just before she started making arrangements to return toFinland, Helly Luv received aMyspace message fromGrammy winning record producerLos Da Mystro to sign an artist deal with his production company. During this deal she had the opportunity to work with Grammy award-winning singer-songwriterThe-Dream. In winter 2013, Helly Luv signed a music deal with Gawain "G2" Bracy II and G2 Music Group. G2 Music Group released "Risk It All," the lively and inspirational leadoff single from Helly Luv's debut album. Produced almost entirely by Gawain "G2" Bracy II, the song synthesized Latin and Middle Eastern rhythms withworld-pop songwriting. "Risk It All" received attention almost immediately in Finland, peaking all the way to the top threeiTunes singles the first week and competing withRihanna's "Diamonds" single.[7]
In 2014, Helly Luv starred in the international filmMardan[8] directed by Batin Ghobadi andBahman Ghobadi where she played the leading role of Leila.[9] Later that year she attended theToronto International Film Festival becoming the firstKurdish actress to attend the event.[10]
In 2015, Helly Luv shot the video for her single "Revolution" in an abandoned village nearMosul, where theKurdish forces were fighting theISIL. In the video of the single, she is seen painting the word "Revolution" on a tank shell in red lipstick and then Attack on theISIL front lines just a few kilometers away.[11]
Other ventures
editPhilanthropy
edit
In 2014, she created her Luv Housenon-profit organization to help the people and animals in need throughoutKurdistan. On January 22, 2014 Helly Luv, A.R.K (Animal Rights Kurdistan), W.I.N.E (Women's International Network Erbil), Dr. Sulaiman Tameer, KOARP (Kurdistan Organization for Animal Rights Protection), Miss Kurdistan Fenik, and the owner of the Zoo helped close the doors to the Gelkand Park inKurdistan (the second worst zoo in the world).[12] Helly Luv and the other organizations moved the animals to a new and improved zoo inErbil, the capital of theKurdistan region.[13]
On July 6, 2014, Helly Luv visited thepeshmerga headquarters in the city ofDuhok, Iraq near the border ofMosul, Iraq during the defense againstISIL; with a mission to deliver food and water to the peshmerga troops.[14]
Singles
editFilmography
editReferences
edit- ^Crowcroft, Orlando (February 20, 2014)."Kurdish singer Helly Luv dismisses threats over music video".The Guardian. RetrievedAugust 12, 2014.
- ^"Interview: Pop singer HELLY LUV".[permanent dead link]
- ^Elkrief, Raphaëlle (August 12, 2014)."HELLY LUV : LA SHAKIRA KURDE PART EN GUERRE".Grazia. RetrievedAugust 13, 2014.
- ^Sheppard, David (July 15, 2014)."Kurdish singer Helly Luv ready to 'Risk it All' for independence".Reuters. RetrievedOctober 30, 2023.
- ^"Mardan". IMDb. RetrievedSeptember 3, 2014.
- ^Ember, Melvin;Ember, Carol R.; Skoggard, Ian, eds. (2004).Encyclopedia of diasporas : immigrant and refugee cultures around the world ([Online-Ausg.]. ed.). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.ISBN 0-306-48321-1.
- ^Koskinen, Matti (August 17, 2014)."Poptähdeksi noussut Helen Abdulla odottaa Kurdistanin itsenäisyyttä".Helsingin Sanomat. RetrievedAugust 28, 2014.
- ^"Mardan". IMDb. RetrievedJuly 2, 2015.
- ^Young, Deborah (September 15, 2014)."'Mardan': Toronto Review".The Hollywood Reporter. RetrievedJuly 2, 2015.
- ^Bloom, Livia (September 22, 2014)."Risking It All: Helly Luv, Kurdistan's Pop Star and Mardan Actress".Filmmaker Magazine. RetrievedJuly 2, 2015.
- ^Crowcroft, Orlando (May 22, 2015)."Iraq: Kurdish star Helen Abdulla shells Isis forces in her glossy music video".IBTimesUK. RetrievedMay 22, 2015.
- ^Shelton, Tracey (May 22, 2010)."Iraq: Dante's hell for animals?".Global Post. RetrievedAugust 5, 2014.
- ^Saleh, Hemin (February 10, 2014)."New Zoo to open in Erbil".Basnews. RetrievedAugust 5, 2014.
- ^Sheppard, David (July 16, 2014)."Kurdish singer Helly Luv ready to 'Risk it All' for independence".Reuters. RetrievedAugust 5, 2014.
- ^"Risk It All by Helly Luv". iTunes Store. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2015.[dead link]
- ^"Revolution". iTunes Store. RetrievedMay 25, 2015.
- ^"HellyLuv – Down on the Floor".Mover.uz.
- ^"Helly Luv & Ardian Bujupi – GUNS & ROSES (prod. by Kostas K.)" – via YouTube.
- ^"Mardan". IMDb. RetrievedJuly 2, 2015.
- ^"Flag Without A Country". IMDb. RetrievedJuly 13, 2017.
External links
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