We were really lucky to catch up with the amazing artist A SOLIMAN following the release of his latest single ‘Animal’. Check out the interview below!
Tell us about yourself?
I am A Soliman, an Egyptian-born artist who started recording music in London around five years ago. I love family comedy shows, and I love to sing, really. I try to make fun pop music because that’s the music that made me happy growing up. I want to bring that same happiness to someone else one day.
What is your songwriting process?
I usually have a lyric and melody in mind,m and build on that. I write all my own lyrics, because, to me, it’s probably the most important part of the song. Usually, when I have a lyric and melody in mind, I try to write the whole song in that moment, or else I’m never going to finish it. I have a lot of half-ideas that have not been looked at again because I lost that inspiration.
Tell us about your latest release?
‘Animal’ is the second single off an upcoming project of mine. I moved back to Egypt in August, and it was a really difficult time for me. I left a big part of my life back in the UK, and it was a struggle to do anything at first. The first single ‘Gone’, was the song that started it all. It came out of a really low moment for me, and everything else followed. With ‘Animal’, it is meant to be a very easy-listening, chill song. The production doesn’t really change much because I wanted it to convey the consistency within a strong relationship. There is no doubt in the relationship because of how consistent each person is. I wanted it to feel light and fun, and I hope it does.
What message do you think your music conveys to your fans?
What I hope fans take from my music is that it’s okay to have fun. My first two singles, ‘Let You Go’ and ‘This Year’ are anthemic and bold. I want the people who listen to my music to feel empowered, like they have a choice and that they have a voice. With songs like Gone, I hope people know that it’s okay to feel low. It’s normal to feel down, and it’s even better to express it. In general, with me, I want whatever I do to feel like a safe space for everyone. That’s the main thing I want to use my music/platform for.
Who are your musical influences?
It depends. I feel like Alessia Cara and Sia are the artists that made me want to write my own lyrics, not wait for anyone to ‘discover’ me and build a career on my own. For the new project, a big influence has been FLETCHER and her ‘You Ruined New York City For Me’ EP. That is a really important body of work for my musical journey. Other artists who have influenced my new project are: Carly Rose, Maisie Peters and AURORA.
Who are your non-musical influences?
Probably my Mom. She’s my favourite person. She’s been really supportive of me and my journey. Her opinions mean the world to me, so she has a big influence on my music.
What’s the best gig that you have ever played?
I played at Acklam Village last year and that was really fun. I’m not sure why it’s my favourite, but it’s the one that really stuck with me to this day.
What is your funniest gig moment?
Not a gig, but I was being interviewed once, and I couldn’t stop asking the interviewer questions back because I felt rude making my interview about me, haha. He had to stop the interview several times to tell me to stop asking questions back because the interview was not about him. It was really funny!
What advice would you give to other bands/artists starting out?
Play as much as you can. I didn’t play that much, and I really regret it. Learn to play an instrument. I also don’t play any instruments, and I think not having an understanding of the composition of music has really slowed my process down. Finally, enjoy it. Especially in the early stages of an artist’s career, it’s really important to make music you enjoy because things are really slow at the beginning. Not a lot of shows, not a lot of sessions, and not a lot of listeners. As long as you enjoy the music you make, you’re going to come back to it (I believe!)
What are your hopes for the next two years?
I wanna have more music out. I have a new single coming out soon that I’m really excited about. I plan to release at least two EPS. I also hope to have 10,000 listeners on Spotify within the next two years! Most of all, I hope to continue to be excited about my releases and my music. It makes me really happy, and I hope it continues that way.
FVMusicBlog May 2020
https://www.instagram.com/asolimanmusic
Twitter: @asolimanmusic
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