Soroush Lashkari is regarded by his fellow musicians as the godfather of Iranian rap, but he must meet his fans wherever he can: one day in a park, another day in a street and the next in a studio, if he is lucky enough to find one.

He performs under the nickname Hichkas – meaning “nobody” – and his conventional dress and black beard make him look more like a religious zealot than a counter-cultural icon.