ARTIST INTERVIEW: SORAYA

How would you describe your music?

I love to sing and write music that I would describe as a mixture of Alina Baraz, Lorde and Joni Mitchell. 

What are some of your inspirations for writing music?

Starting at the age of three, I began to experiment with words and performance, writing lyrics and singing them to my family and friends. I would sing and my mom would write down the lyrics as I was too young to physically write. The songs would be senseless, but I just really enjoyed coming up with melodies and lyrics. As I grew older and began to experience more, I started to base my writing processes more on these real things that were going on in my life. I definitely would consider myself an open book, and I think that is extremely evident in my writing. I speak to a bunch of different things I’ve experienced such as heartbreak and an absentee father. I strive to help people through my music and use it to connect with others.

Do you have a favorite song of yours? 

When I was 17, I wrote a song called “You Mean Nothing to Me”. This song was about my dad and how he isn’t involved in my life. Growing up, this was something that I struggled with a lot, and I found it important to finally express these feelings through music. This was the first song I felt very emotionally invested in, in contrast to before when I would write about senseless topics and focus mainly on the melodies.

Which artists inspire you the most?

Whitney Houston, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Ariana Grande, Aretha Franklin and Elton John. These artists truly display creativity and passion through their music, which is a rare thing to find in the music industry nowadays. Throughout their careers, they have all focused on developing and diversifying their art, and not on their fame. That’s how I want to be.

Who have you collaborated with before?

The first single I ever released was a collaboration with Beshken titled “Right Time”. That was when I was 16 and started to get more interested in taking music seriously. I’ve also collaborated with artists such as Kap Slap. On the producer side, I have worked with Spike Stent, Harry and Steve Kipner and Andrew Frampton. 

What are some of your hobbies aside from music?

I love to cook, travel and explore new cultures. I also volunteer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, singing to patients in their pediatric department. I’m a very extroverted person so I love hanging out with friends and family as well.

What are you working on now?

An EP releasing in May, titled Soraya.