© Pete Cadman
Resilience and passion are in BANA’s DNA - as is creating everything with the utmost amount of love.
Firmly established as a popstar in her home region of Kurdistan, BANA’s newest English language material fuses musical elements of her roots with a maximalist pop sheen - and her latest track showcases this to full effect. BANA’s artistry aims to empower, and proudly represent Kurdish women in the industry, and her distinctive brand of unapologetic lyrics and punchy production has been crafted to instantly gain attention. Upon the release of her latest English-language single Bag of Hearts, which is about a trickster who steals people’s hearts, BANA spoke to Injection about her heritage, passion and plans for the future.
“I’m BANA, a singer-songwriter born and raised from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan - a place known for its rich arts and culture. My passion for music led me to London two years ago and it’s been an incredible journey of artistic and personal growth.
I live and breathe music and art, and feel most alive when I'm in my element, writing stories and translating the melodies within me into songs that resonate with others. If I had to define myself as a creative I’d say I’m a very passionate and resilient person. Perhaps it’s because us Kurdish women are strong and we have a natural ability to fight for what we love and create things with the utmost amount of love."
© Pete Cadman
"I'm fluent in Kurdish, English, and Arabic but I also immerse myself in music and languages from around the world, not just to appreciate the artistry, but to gain diverse perspectives. Singing and writing in English has always felt natural to me, and sometimes, it's even easier to express my emotions in English.
Performing live is how I started out and got recognition in my homeland, and the best thing about it is the connection with the audience, the shared energy, the unique memories and moments each person has with these songs. The realisation that my music has become part of people's lives is truly very special.
I see challenges [within the music industry] as opportunities for growth. Life is a constant learning process, and every experience, whether positive or negative, shapes us into who we are. There have been moments of doubt and confusion with both my art and my personal life, and maybe this was due to the pressures of growing up in the public eye. However I found keeping myself grounded and surrounding myself with people who love me for me and not just my art has really helped me. Like my mom always tells me: “BANA you are more than your art. You are more than what you do. You are a multidimensional being”."
© Pete Cadman
"In the future, I'd love to collaborate with Billie Eilish on an emotional song. I admire her ability to pour her heart and soul into her music through powerful vocals and riffs which she does perfectly.
For now, I’m taking deliberate steps towards my goals. I've been preparing for my music career for a long time, and I believe the next few years will be a time of blossoming and growth. I want to continue releasing music I love in both English and Kurdish and get back to performing live for my fans as I know they miss seeing me in that element and constantly ask me for a concert which is flattering.”
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