We are impressed! Yasmina Moonlight is the X Factor prodigy who instantly won the hearts of her fans. With her enormous talent for singing in several languages and of course her excellent acting skills, this girl is about to become the next pop star sensation.
Born and raised in Dubai, her first language has always been English, and that’s what makes this girl even more special. She has managed to learn to sing in Arabic, Hindi, Farsi, Russian, French and her mother tongue Tajiki. *WOW*
The young singer is not only super sophisticated and wants to be an international pop star, but she is also so kind and her singing literally gives you goose bumps.
Cosmo ME sat down with the rising star and asked her a few questions about herself, her passions, and all her dreams for the future.
Cosmo ME: How did growing up in Dubai shape your music style, especially with the pop elements fused with Arabic and Hindi influences?
Yasmina: I started singing when I was six years old and my first language was English. And once I got into music, I realised it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In the beginning, I never really explored the different elements and cultures. I started with English. And once I realised that the culture of the place where I live because I’m originally from Tajikistan, so, you know, it’s very, very different. Growing up here in Dubai and meeting different people, I realised how big the music world is – it’s huge. I actually started with Hindi music instead of Arabic. And to explore the culture, I went to India. I did competitions there. I really, really, really loved the Hindi side of music as well. But not only the music, but also the films. And that’s where I got inspired to sing in Hindi. After exploring different languages, Arabic came in. And wow, Arabic is my favourite language. That’s how I got into Arabic music by learning about the culture. I love to tell a story through my singing. And so, yeah, that’s how I got into Hindi and Arabic. And not only Hindi and Arabic, I also sing Russian, Farsi and French.
Cosmo ME: What inspired you to blend different cultural sounds into your music, and how do you think it sets you apart in the mainstream music scene?
Yasmina: Actually, in the beginning, I never really thought about going into different languages. But, I got inspired by many different artists. So, for example, if we’re going to the Hindi side, I was inspired by Arjit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. And if we’re talking about the Arabic side, Fairouz and Umm Kulthum. These people inspired me a lot. They’re, like, legends to me. I was thinking, why not give it a shot? A girl who’s from Tajikistan, who literally grew up in Dubai, only speaks English. I didn’t know my mother tongue language back then when I was younger. I actually just learned it properly now. So why not showcase a talent that can learn and sing different languages. That’s how everything started. Now it’s my turn. I know this is something I want to do for the rest of my life. And singing in Arabic is what was a hit. So now that’s what I’m getting into.
Cosmo ME: Can you share your experience on X Factor Dubai? What was the most memorable moment for you during that journey?
Yasmina: Oh, my God. I think X Factor was one of the best experiences of my life. Literally. I still keep the clothes, by the way. I call those clothes my successful clothes. Honestly, it was like a God-gifted experience. I was actually avoiding it so many times. I didn’t want to go at first. But they called my mom. They literally called my mom. I don’t know how they got her number. But it’s like God was telling me that I needed that. Because I stopped singing for four years before X Factor. I think the best moment for me was meeting Ragheb Alama. He was one of my inspirations. I learned Nasini El Donya, the song that I got viral for, in just four days. It was so quick: Yasmina, audition. Yasmina, you got in. Yasmina, perform. Meeting the producers and meeting other artists, which I learned so much from, and getting advice from them, because they’re Arab. They know their culture. They know their techniques in Arabic and how to sing perfectly, and their little letters, because I used to mess up a little bit, I’m not Arab.
Cosmo ME: Your stage presence is often described as magnetic. How do you prepare for performances, and what does being on stage mean to you?
Yasmina: With all honesty, (I’m always 100% transparent) I am so nervous every time I go up on stage. I feel like every artist is always a bit nervous, but with the experiences I’ve had, because I stopped singing for many, many years, there was a moment where I gave up. I didn’t perform nothing. It takes a lot to build up confidence when you’re on stage, and you should have that experience going back and forth on stage and interacting with people. It’s very nerve-wracking, but the stage brings me a lot of life, a lot of happiness. It’s therapy, because singing for me is literally therapy. I have a problem, I’ll go sing. I’m sad, I’ll go sing. I’m happy, I’ll go sing. It brings me life. I just hope that one day I can perform in front of my fans, and people are singing my songs, and going, like, Habibi, my baby. That would be a dream come true.
Cosmo ME: Can you talk about the message or impact you hope to leave with your audience?
Yasmina: If you’re really aiming for what you want, it won’t work without hard work and dedication. You really, really need to work your butt off, not going to lie. And don’t worry about what the future holds, because God has already written what is going to come for you. Just work, don’t get distracted, focus on your goal, and just be patient. Don’t be in a rush, because that’s something I’ve learned in this studio, to not be in a rush. Your time will come.
Cosmo ME: You’ve previously worked with Sephora, Huda Beauty, and Too Faced Cosmetics – What does beauty mean to you in your industry?
Yasmina: Beauty, to me, is confidence, empowerment, and exclusivity, 100%. It’s just happiness, and it’s art as well. It’s a talent, because doing makeup is actually not an easy thing. Everyone thinks that it’s easy, but it’s actually really, really hard. When you do your own makeup, you really put your own taste and art to it. Because you know your own face, you know your own beauty and you know your own confidence..
Cosmo ME: Acting is another major part of your career. What has been your favourite role? And how do your experiences in film and commercials influence your approach to music and performance?
Yasmina: With singing and acting, the only thing that really connects is feelings and facial expressions, emotions. While I’m singing, I act, I use my body language. Either I cry or I’m happy. Acting has been amazing. My favourite role was when I played in the Malayalam movie. It was one of my biggest achievements. It was premiered all around the world. I gained a lot of fans from India. We shot the movie for two months. But, like I said, when it comes to singing and acting, it teaches me a lot on how to express my feelings through music as well.
Cosmo ME: Who are some of your biggest musical or cultural influences, and how have they shaped the artist you are today?
Yasmina: I have four different categories. If we’re talking about English, it’s Ariana Grande, Ray and Billie Eilish, and if we’re talking about back in the days, it’s Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, but as vocalists not as performers. I take deep looks at their song writing and what message they tell through their music. The way I see them as artists is what inspires me to really work hard, and achieve that level of success. Because behind the scenes, they work hard as well. They’re not always happy. They also have their personal life, which connects to me a lot. And I’ve seen documentaries.
When we talk about Arabic. I listened to Fairouz, Umm Kulthum, Warda, Ragheb, Nancy Ajram. I got inspired first by its culture. And then I really went deep into the music. And just learning singing in that language was very beautiful and poetic to me. So that’s what inspired me to go around Arabic music as well.
Cosmo ME: Talk to us about your new single.
Yasmina: This is the one I’m most excited for. I know my audience is literally all Arabs, all around the world. Everyone from Morocco, Syria, Iraq, Saudi is messaging me. They’re like, so what is your next song? The surprise is that it’s fully Arabic. I started with two English songs. Everyone’s expecting English all the way now, which is good, because that’s what I’m also going to continue to do. I think it’s going to be my favourite song, and I really hope it goes well. I think they’re gonna love it. It’s so me. And it’s about stars and the moon so it really has a connection to me, as I’m Yasmina Moonlight. I love the song so much. Ayam is actually the first song I recorded and started with in the studio with LPME.
Cosmo ME: What’s your ultimate goal in your career?
Yasmina: My ultimate goal is, first of all, to always remember the people who were
around me, which is my family, and friends. And then of course, to be successful
to the point where I win a Grammy or I win an Oscar. No, I’m kidding. But of course my goal is to perform around the world, to be international, for people to understand my story through my music. For people to get inspired by me the way I’m inspired by other artists. And of course, it’s to always have my family around. It’s to always sing. And it’s to do the
biggest shows in the world, sold out. Maybe even to someday collaborate with my favourite artists like Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. That is a dream goal. Hopefully.
Have you heard? Former Cosmo ME cover star Sabrina Bahsoon is becoming a pop star.