Congratulations on the discharge of ‘One Suitcase!’ The album consists of a mixture of private storytelling and broader themes like love, empowerment, and resilience. How do you steadiness vulnerability along with your radiant ‘world-pop’ sound?
The brief reply is: with nice issue!
To be severe, I actually didn’t actually assume a lot about such forms of steadiness in regard to the compilation of songs that had been included on ONE SUITCASE. Now we have a couple of dozen songs which can be close to completion however didn’t make it on to this album for a wide range of causes…and certainly, a couple of of these songs had been excluded merely and insofar as we didn’t need the album to be significantly targeted on one or two genres.
‘ALCHEMY’ speaks to your reinvention after fleeing fundamentalism. What had been some defining moments in your journey that formed the girl and artist you’re right this moment?
My journey to America and my gradual westernization over twenty years might be the defining facet of each my life and my profession. Most of the views that had been ingrained in me throughout my childhood in Iran the place issues that I fairly consciously and intentionally needed to unlearn with the intention to comfortably exist in America.
Changing into a mom with two great kids was additionally one other key second because it made me understand that I needed to set an instance for my kids that could be a key studying expertise for them. It was within the aftermath of the delivery of my first youngster that I decided to attempt to pursue music on a full-time foundation: so I suppose we’ve received him responsible.
Lastly however not least, assembly my man and having a dedicated relationship with the person who’s my finest pal, Quantity One supporter and around-the-clock confidante has given me the inspiration to pursue my musical goals.
‘ONE SUITCASE’ blends a number of genres, from fashionable disco to Latin and Center Japanese sounds. How do these various influences mirror your id and creative imaginative and prescient?
I actually don’t assume it’s any greater than a mirrored image of my musical style and the various genres of music to which I’ve been uncovered over time. Whereas rising up in Iran, we listened to all forms of Western and Center Japanese music: however once I got here to Germany, Once I got here to America, I used to be uncovered to HipHop and myself favored a whole lot of hours of dance music as I used to be commuting in larger Washington DC. And at last, once I got here to Texas a decade in the past I used to be launched with heavy publicity to Latino music by my Latino gal buddies right here in Dallas.
Once you come into my home, you by no means know what’s going to be taking part in on the sound system — it might be Frank Sinatra or Chet Baker or Morgan Web page or Dangerous Bunny or Tiesto. I nonetheless Love the genius of Paul Oakenfold, the O’Jays, Sade and Miley Cyrus.
So it needs to be no shock to anybody that my musical output is a kaleidoscope of genres.
Some songs, like ‘AFTERGLOW’ and ‘EXOTICA,’ discover sensuality and romance, whereas others, like ‘NOSTALGIC,’ have a extra vengeful edge. How do you navigate these totally different emotional tones inside one album?
ONE SUITCASE represents a chronicle of my coming to America in addition to among the tough psychological transitions that had been needed to ensure that me to have a completely Westernized life.
An enormous a part of that transition was relearning what it was to be a girl and turning into snug with my femininity: and the way all of that megatopic rolls in to the ideas of romance and romantic relationships.
In that regard, songs similar to AFTERGLOW, EXOTICA, A LITTLE LOVE and ALIVE characterize one aspect of the coin on romance: whereas ALL I WANTED WAS YOU and NOSTALGIC reveal my very own expertise that not each romantic relationship is wine and roses.
The humanitarian facet of your profession is as robust as your musical one, with you latterly becoming a member of Select Love as an envoy. Do you see your self increasing additional into activism sooner or later?
I don’t think about myself an activist within the sense that most individuals affiliate with celebration politics within the West You aren’t going to see me protesting DOGE actions in America or arguing about whether or not you have to be utilizing sure loos.
Nevertheless, being a refugee from a regime that suppresses primary feminine human rights, I’ll at all times stand for feminine empowerment and equality. It strikes me as insane and unhealthy that we’re nonetheless arguing about these points within the twenty first century. However so long as my sisters throughout the globe are subjugated and threatened with punishments for nothing aside from the expression of their femininity, I’ll communicate out. And there may be nothing that in a political sense enrages me greater than a bunch of grownup previous gangsters desperately clinging to energy and utilizing God and his supposed will as their excuse.
Out of your debut album ‘INFINITE LOVE’ to now, how do you’re feeling you’ve advanced as each an artist and a storyteller?
Oh, I feel that the distinction is profound.
On my INFINITE LOVE album, I nonetheless really feel that a variety of the songs are terrific — however the musical breadth is especially constrained to the EDM style. And among the songs are autobiographical: however nonetheless reserved in emotional influence.
On ONE SUITCASE, the album is replete with an array of non-public and deeply reflective songs which can be drawn from my very own expertise. And for instance, I’m undecided that I’ll ever have the ability to write a track having a extra deeply and uncooked emotional texture than ALL I WANTED WAS YOU. Or should you assume that ALIVE is only a catchy little dance track, pay attention exhausting.
Select Love has an unimaginable roster of high-profile supporters, together with Oprah and Benedict Cumberbatch. How do you see your self utilizing your platform to drive change?
I’m undecided that my function as a spokesperson for Select Love could have any significant influence, however I’d prefer to assume that consciousness of my very own expertise as a refugee would possibly open individuals’s eyes to the fact of this example.
Cross-border migration is such a scorching subject worldwide, particularly from the standpoint of unlawful immigration throughout borders. It took my household eight years Iran after which one other six years to legally immigrate all of my brothers and sisters into america. And we’re nonetheless working for over a decade get different family members out of Iran and to America. So I are inclined to chortle out loud when somebody tries to lecture me on the subject.
However appears to get misplaced within the public discourse on immigration is the plight of refugees, you’re usually cod within the No Man’s Land that exists within the trek their native international locations and their supposed locations. As a result of I’m so Americanized and don’t have any discernible accent, individuals who have heard my music however have no idea my background are constantly stunned to be taught that I got here to America as a young person with just about nothing and with a household that suffered horrendous persecutions because of our political affiliations. And when individuals be taught of my very own refugee story, it at all times appears to spark a sure diploma of admiration and empathy. So if I can do something on this regard for Select Love, I’m hoping that I can humanize within the minds of individuals the standing of numerous thousands and thousands of equally located people worldwide who’ve actual wants.
Are there any upcoming reside exhibits or excursions that followers needs to be wanting ahead to in 2025?
Now we have turned down a couple of alternatives to this point for 2025 just because we didn’t really feel that both the setting or different features of the efficiency proposals had been acceptable. However we’re working exhausting proper now to finalize some tour dates for the approaching yr as I’m wanting to carry out among the songs that you just’ll discover on ONE SUITCASE.
With ‘ONE SUITCASE’ marking such a serious chapter in your profession, the place do you see your self headed subsequent musically?
The truth is, I’m already no less than three songs into my third album, which I’m hoping to launch throughout 2026. Whereas I’ve not but chosen a theme for the album, a lot much less a working title, I can inform you that these new songs are pretty emotionally uncooked and extra stripped down presently than the tracks that you just’ll discover on ONE SUITCASE.
However When you’ve completed studying this interview, go hearken to ONE SUITCASE. I can just about assure that you just’ll be blissful that you just did!
