It is about time for y’all to be obsessed with Sandra Sahi.
The Iraqi singer-songwriter will release her debut album, Love Languages, on June 20. It has an oriental twist, and we are SO here for it.
Born and raised in Belgium, Sandra sticks to her Iraqi roots and will soon bring the East and West to life by packing it with bops of English, French, Spanish, and Arabic that’ll be on repeat for this summer.
What started 11 years ago was covering songs on YouTube and earning more than 900,000 subscribers, singing Beyonce and Demi Lovato, and showcasing her diversity through her music today.
The 24-year-old has spilt some MAJOR tea about her unique journey to this album and all things music.
CosmoME: What inspired you to pursue a music career?
Sandra: My passion for music started at a very young age. Since I was six, what inspired me the most was growing up around Disney movies and watching musicals. Also, I grew up surrounded by a very music-driven family. My mom also sang back in the day during weddings, gatherings, and family outings.
CosmoME: What has your journey with social media been like up to now with music?
Sandra: I have been creating content since I was around 16 or 17, starting on YouTube. YouTube allowed me to start making covers, posting them online, and gaining many views. Later, I moved to Instagram to share those covers from YouTube, a growing platform, as Instagram was also gaining popularity. These platforms have been a massive part of my journey as an artist, enabling me to showcase my talents to the world.
CosmoME: What was your favourite song to cover?
Sandra: I used to love singing songs by Demi Lovato or Selena Gomez. I don’t have a specific favourite song, but I used to sing any song by these Disney stars. They were my favourites.
CosmoME: What about Selena and Demi did you like?
Sandra: I loved their songs; they were so popular and nice. I used to dream of becoming a pop star just like them. Years ago, there were rising pop stars during the Disney days, and I saw them as a goal and target for myself to aspire to in the future. I also wanted to be able to perform on stage.
CosmoME: How has your cultural background influenced your music?
Sandra: It has had a significant influence on my music. When I was younger, I leaned towards making more mainstream and pop music because the beauty of incorporating my culture into my music wasn’t as apparent or popular at the time. However, as I matured in the UAE over the past decade, I realized the importance of infusing my Iraqi heritage into my songs. As I prepare to release my album next week, I am excited to incorporate more elements of my culture into the music. I strongly believe that it is essential for us, as Arabs, to represent our culture in our music and art.
CosmoME: Can you tell us a little bit about why that was important to you?
Sandra: I am an Iraqi girl born and raised in Belgium. After living in Belgium for over twelve years, my family and I moved to the UAE. I have always felt torn between my different cultures and languages, so I embraced that. I fluently speak and sing in French, Arabic, and English simultaneously. I never had one native language; all three were equally important and spoken fluently daily. This is very important to me because many kids, young people, and older individuals experience the same multicultural and multilingual upbringing. I believe this diversity is beautiful and inspired me to incorporate it into my new album.
CosmoME: How does it feel to release your debut album?
Sandra: It’s an amazing feeling. I think every artist dreams of working on a big project like this, and it’s overwhelming. Just last week, I had the pre-release listening party for the album, and I was so lucky to have my friends and family witness the show I put together for a whole hour. They loved it, especially the new songs. The songs are very light, happy, and energetic, and I believe that we all need uplifting music in times like these. Especially during these sadder or down times, good music can make a difference.
CosmoME: How long has it been since you started working on the record?
Sandra: I would say roughly about nine to ten months.
CosmoME: What do you want your fans to take away from this album?
Sandra: I want listeners to enjoy the album in their daily lives. It’s a light album, and I hope people interpret it in their own way. I don’t want to force any specific meaning on the songs. I just want listeners to embrace it with open ears and play the songs wherever they are, whether it’s on the way to an evening out or running errands. The beauty of it is its easy-listening nature, and I want the listener to interpret it in their own way.
CosmoME: Who’s your dream artist to collab with?
Sandra: I have had different favourite artists at different times. A few years ago, I was really into Ariana Grande. However, now I am more interested in collaborating with artists like Dystinct, who create Moroccan Dutch music like me and have a multicultural and multilingual style. I would also love to collaborate with Saint Levant. I believe it’s important to showcase Arabic artists and their music because I find it really beautiful and believe more people should hear it.
CosmoME: Describe the album in three words if you can.
Sandra: I would say fruitful, authentic, and original as well.
CosmoME: What kind of aesthetic were you going for with the album cover?
Sandra: The aesthetic was very much like getting lost in a forest, with flowers and good vibes. It’s totally my style. I love aesthetics like this. I feel that, like music, you can interpret it in your own way. I actually recreated the vibe and beauty of the artwork live on stage last week at the debut pre-launch album party. I also had beautiful flower decorations on the mic stand. We attached flowers and greens all over the mic itself. It had a very tropical feel.
CosmoME: Are you gonna have a tour happening for this album?
Sandra: Not yet, but hopefully, if the album is well received by the fans and by the listeners, potentially, who knows?
CosmoME: What’s a beauty product you can’t live without?
Sandra: I used to rely on eyeliner, but now it’s all about concealer. Lack of sleep and overall tiredness have become common, and concealer helps me feel less tired and more alive. It’s great for hiding under-eye bags and other imperfections, whether it’s due to travel or just everyday life. Concealer has definitely become my go-to product.
CosmoME: What’s next for you after just dropping this album?
Sandra: I don’t think that not liking it means I’m giving up. In fact, it’s the opposite, it’s only the beginning. Releasing an album involves making sure it gets a lot of exposure and also releasing singles over the year and maybe into the next year. I really enjoy releasing music, so it’s something I plan to continue doing. It’s not something I’ll easily give up on. So, I plan to release more singles and songs.
CosmoME: Is there anything you’d like to add?
Sandra: Definitely stream the album Love Languages in Arabic, and I hope that it’s well received. To any artist or aspiring artist, always follow your gut feeling and your passion. Pursue what you’re truly passionate about, whether showcasing your culture or releasing music in general. Don’t let anything hold you back. It’s a long journey and a long process, but it’s really worth it in the end.
ICYMI, read our interview with Descendants star Kylie Cantrall here.