Newcomer Imen Siar is proof that greatness can be found in the most unlikely of places. The 23-year-old dreamed of a music career while working in Nando’s in South London, her only creative outlet being to post videos of her singing into a mop during breaks from work.
Her talent was discovered by the New York label icons + giants, which had just been launched by two influential hitmakers: Benton James whose previous credits include P!nk, John Legend and Supah Mario. & Grammy-nominated Billy Mann
Suddenly Imen was gaining the traction her talents deserved, signing a deal with icons + giants and Warner Music’s ADA, and then making a huge debut as a featured artist on the Arabic remix of David Guetta’s ‘Family’ alongside Ty Dolla $ign and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Now Imen Siar continues her inspiring ascent as she shares her debut single ‘Lonely People’. Listen HERE.
‘Lonely People’ is a brilliantly beguiling introduction to Imen’s talents. The song’s strengths are undeniable – Imen’s stunning, world class vocal gift delivers an instantly memorable song that conveys a universally relatable theme in the most direct way possible. There’s no need for chasing trends, just a truly great artist performing a song of equal stature. ‘Lonely People’ was produced by Isa Machine, who is best known for her creative contributions to Florence + The Machine, and it was written by Jeff Franzel (Rhys Lewis), solo artist John Adams, and Shelly Poole (Mark Ronson, Jack Savoretti).
Imen says, “‘Lonely People’ touched me the first moment I heard it. Probably the only thing more contagious than Covid right now is isolation and loneliness, so the idea of ending loneliness spoke to me.”
LISTEN HERE
What’s your story as an artist?
My story and my persona are all based around peace and integrity. I want to also be an artist that I needed and wanted when growing up, as none of them looked like me.
I feel like representation is super important for people in my community and not only that, but it’s important that I show the world who I really am and what my faith really is, as many people still don’t know a lot about it. I’m an artist open to let people in and shower them with love and support. All I want is to make people happy and make music that is suitable for all, from adults to kids.
What do you want your music to communicate?
I want my music to communicate the way I feel throughout my journey in life. I’m still learning every day and I want to share with the world my progress, my thoughts, and love.
What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?
I have just recently started writing so at the moment I write about both deep topics and more light hearted ones. I love to sing songs that make people happy and makes them want to jump and get active with their days, but I also like to write songs that people could listen to in silence at night looking out of their windows. Just for them to reflect on and relax.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Faouzia is incredible, she has my same Moroccan roots and it was the first time that I had seen a Moroccan make the same music I like to make, instead of moroccans just singing Arab songs. So it was truly inspiring and I really look up to her. She’s always so modest, in both clothing and lyrics, and that’s how I’m trying to be.
Tell us about your latest release:
In these hard times, especially after the pandemic and all the wars happening in the world, it’s easy for people to feel lonely and to feel a bit lost. And I wanted to make people think about the magic that would create if people that are lonely spoke about feeling lonely in other to find others that are in their same situation, and therefore they would all have someone.
Its something that I find fascinating because people that are lonely can often tell from other peoples behaviour that they are lonely too. But the world is so scared of rejection that no one speaks about their feelings.
And “lonely people” it’s about the opposite, what if people actually could see who the other lonely people were?
What’s your favorite tune of yours?
Who you are by Jessie j Is one of those songs that deeply stayed with you for years, that you came back to listen to every time you felt down. “It’s okay not to be okay” it’s something I really needed to hear when I was younger, and Jessie j is still one of my favourite artists now.
Favorite lyric you ever wrote?
“I’m a diamond in the dark, watch me shine on”
As it’s almost if it spoke about me before and me earlier. I’ve always been a diamond, but the difference is that now people will see me shine.
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
When I was younger I felt like I wouldn’t have fit the music industry, I thought I wasn’t skinny enough, that they wouldn’t accept me with my hijab, and that my dad would never let me sing. So it discouraged me a lot, but I don’t ever remember myself thinking of giving up. I kept going day by day.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
“Love the whole mountain, not just the top of the mountain”
This was an advice that my manager Billy has actually told me when I got signed, and I find it so true. People try to get to the top of success too quickly and so bad, that they forget to enjoy the process of getting there, which is already an exciting journey.
