Congratulations on the discharge of ‘One Suitcase!’ The album contains 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 critical, I actually didn’t actually suppose a lot about such sorts 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 might 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 notably centered 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 lady and artist you’re at the moment?
My journey to America and my gradual westernization over twenty years might be the defining side of each my life and my profession. Most of the views that had been ingrained in me throughout my early life in Iran the place issues that I fairly consciously and intentionally needed to unlearn in an effort to comfortably exist in America.
Turning into a mom with two great kids was additionally one other key second because it made me notice that I needed to set an instance for my kids that is perhaps a key studying expertise for them. It was within the aftermath of the delivery of my first youngster that I made up my mind to attempt to pursue music on a full-time foundation: so I assume we’ve acquired him in charge.
Lastly however not least, assembly my man and having a dedicated relationship with the person who’s my greatest good friend, Quantity One supporter and around-the-clock confidante has given me the inspiration to pursue my musical desires.
‘ONE SUITCASE’ blends a number of genres, from trendy disco to Latin and Center Japanese sounds. How do these various influences mirror your id and creative imaginative and prescient?
I actually don’t suppose it’s any greater than a mirrored image of my musical style and the various genres of music to which I’ve been uncovered through the years. Whereas rising up in Iran, we listened to all sorts 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 tons of 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 friends 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 Unhealthy Bunny or Tiesto. I nonetheless Love the genius of Paul Oakenfold, the O’Jays, Sade and Miley Cyrus.
So it ought 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 completely different emotional tones inside one album?
ONE SUITCASE represents a chronicle of my coming to America in addition to a number of the troublesome psychological transitions that had been mandatory to ensure that me to have a completely Westernized life.
A giant a part of that transition was relearning what it was to be a girl and turning into comfy with my femininity: and the way all of that megatopic rolls in to the ideas of romance and romantic relationships.
In that regard, songs akin to AFTERGLOW, EXOTICA, A LITTLE LOVE and ALIVE characterize one facet of the coin on romance: whereas ALL I WANTED WAS YOU and NOSTALGIC display my very own expertise that not each romantic relationship is wine and roses.
The humanitarian side 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 contemplate 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 try to be utilizing sure loos.
Nonetheless, being a refugee from a regime that suppresses primary feminine human rights, I’ll all the time 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 converse out. And there may be nothing that in a political sense enrages me greater than a bunch of grownup outdated 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 are feeling you’ve developed as each an artist and a storyteller?
Oh, I believe that the distinction is profound.
On my INFINITE LOVE album, I nonetheless really feel that quite a lot of the songs are terrific — however the musical breadth is especially constrained to the EDM style. And a number of the songs are autobiographical: however nonetheless reserved in emotional affect.
On ONE SUITCASE, the album is replete with an array of non-public and deeply reflective songs which might be drawn from my very own expertise. And for instance, I’m unsure that I’ll ever be capable to write a music having a extra deeply and uncooked emotional texture than ALL I WANTED WAS YOU. Or in the event you suppose that ALIVE is only a catchy little dance music, hear laborious.
Select Love has an unbelievable 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 unsure that my position as a spokesperson for Select Love can have any significant affect, however I’d wish to suppose that consciousness of my very own expertise as a refugee would possibly open individuals’s eyes to the fact of this case.
Cross-border migration is such a sizzling 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 kin out of Iran and to America. So I are inclined to giggle 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 typically 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 haven’t any discernible accent, individuals who have heard my music however have no idea my background are constantly shocked to be taught that I got here to America as a youngster with just about nothing and with a household that suffered horrendous persecutions on account of our political affiliations. And when individuals be taught of my very own refugee story, it all the time 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 hundreds of thousands of equally located people worldwide who’ve actual wants.
Are there any upcoming reside reveals or excursions that followers ought to be trying 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 points of the efficiency proposals had been applicable. However we’re working laborious proper now to finalize some tour dates for the approaching 12 months as I’m desperate to carry out a number of the songs that you simply’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 let you know that these new songs are pretty emotionally uncooked and extra stripped down at the moment than the tracks that you simply’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 simply’ll be comfortable that you simply did!
