In this exclusive interview with Sonic Sisters Magazine, Lebanese/Palestinian-Scottish artist Salwa opens up about her multifaceted career spanning from acting, filmmaking, modelling, poetry, and music. She explores her inspirations, creative processes, and personal experiences shaping her work, particularly her new single and music video, 'Ghost You'. Salwa shares how her diverse cultural heritage, bipolar diagnosis, and upbringing in Beirut and London have influenced her introspective storytelling and eclectic musical style, blending electro-pop, space disco, and more. She credits influences ranging from Freddie Mercury and Fiona Apple to 90s garage, house, and 70s/80s funk and soul. Salwa discusses her songwriting as a means of navigating identity, mental health, and urban life, aiming to connect with listeners by blending humor with darker themes. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and encourages emerging female artists to embrace individuality. She also delves into her aspirations, such as performing live in Europe and the Middle East, and concludes with her advice for new artists to stay true to themselves and their creativity.
Continue reading to learn more about Salwa. . .
Thanks for chatting with us at Sonic Sisters Magazine! Can you share a bit about how your journey into music began?
A real pleasure! I got into music through my father. I used to sing him to sleep when I was really small and I think he saw from a young age that I had a knack for music. As a way to bond, we both took piano lessons together: I was five years old and he was 32. It’s one of those really wholesome memories I have. Eventually, he gave it up but he made sure I stuck with it. I’d always make up songs when I was little and started writing properly at 12. It’s just always been something I’ve done. When I got diagnosed with bipolar as a young adult, I was told that lots of people with the disorder are poets and writers so maybe there’s an element of that, since I can remember I’ve been fascinated with rhyming and rhythm.
Who have been some of the most significant influences on your musical style?
I’ve been influenced by so many different types of music: old jazz from the Mills Brothers, The Boswell Sisters, and Gershwin to musical theatre and old Bob Fosse films. Prog rock bands like Gong and Gentle Giant. Freddie Mercury is possibly one of my biggest teachers of songwriting. And just growing up in the 90s listening to all the garage and house music alongside my parents' love for 70s/80s funk and soul.
And which female musicians or women in the music industry have inspired your journey?
There are just so many badass women in the industry who inspire me daily. Recently we’ve had the likes of Billie Elish, Lila Ramani from Crumb, and Liana Flores - such a beautiful songstress. I guess I grew up being really inspired by Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Bjork, Sade, and Nina Perrson. One of the most bad ass women whom I just always have admired is Zoe Colotis from Caravan Palace. She’s just such a cool front lady who can capture your heart in a second.
How do your personal experiences shape your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners take away from those connections?
My personal experiences are always my first point of inspiration. I use my life to try and make sense of myself and of things around me. I often can’t understand why I feel things so intensely and music has been a way to help me explore these mixed emotions while navigating my bipolar disorder. I carry some trauma from growing up in the turbulence of Beirut. Living in London is no easy thing and culturally it took me a while to try and fit in, I was always a bit of a foreigner in both cities. But I consider both my Arabic and British heritage home. I really feel split down the middle. I hope listeners will feel less alone, and also be able to find the humour in the darker side of things through my music.
Congratulations on your brand-new single and music video 'Ghost You' - what inspired this particular song?
Ghost You - ah yes so this song is so special to me because it was inspired by a few different nights out I had. I was a messy young thing, I’d get myself into complicated situations with people and I think I just wanted to own it a bit more. Ghost You is a kind of ‘piss off’ to people: bad friends, shit men, poor relationships, but also a piss off to myself as well. With bipolar, sleep is so important and I think it’s easy to forget to sleep when you’re on a high and that’s when you get into these messes. It’s a roller coaster but it’s fun - dark - but fun. I wrote it with it being a disco anthem in mind: full of spunk and groove. Ted Clarke, the director of the video, came up with these incredible visuals and worked with set designer Anna Shearing to make shimmering tinsel, lurid ambience which I think accompanied the tone of the song perfectly.
What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?
I look for inspiration everywhere so I can’t narrow it down to one song. I find myself learning and being consumed by so many different genres and people.
Is there a song in your catalog that holds a special personal meaning for you? We'd love to hear the story or inspiration behind it.
Howling Hiram is one of those songs I wrote in one sitting and it means a lot to me because it explores the feelings of being at a dead end with one person but at the beginning of something immense with another.
What are some of the aspirations you have for your music moving forward?
I’d love to be able to play more shows across Europe and the Middle East. Playing live and connecting with people in the flesh is really what I live for. I’m a drama student kid so performing is always the best part of any project.
What advice would you give to emerging female artists who are just starting out in the music world?
Be yourself always, don’t try to copy. There are so many inauthentic voices because of this pressure to fit into some kind of box so that it can be packaged up nicely and sold. We lose out on so much creativity this way. Make mistakes, find your voice and just be kind to yourself always. Music-making is about expressing parts of yourself that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
Cheers for reading - hope to see you at a show one day soon!
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