Imen Siar – Lonely People

By starrymag | May 11, 2022

By: Alejandra Gil M.

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I am still in the very early stages of my career where I think I’m trying to find a defining sounds and where I think I’m experimenting a lot.

I like to sing different genres as Lina as the songs represent my values and speak about topics that I’m really passionate about. I want my music to break boundaries and stereotypes so I’m still in the process of truly finding my sound, even though right now it is mainly pop/ballad.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Growing up my musical influences have been Adele, little mix, Bruno Mars and Jessie J. But I then realized that I needed to feel represented by artist that looked more like me or came from similar background, and since there wasn’t many artists to do so, I decided to become one for the younger generations.

Now my musical influences are faouzia, nemahsis, zoe wees, Alessia Cara and Lewis Capaldi.

 

Q) Your story is remarkable, born to a family with Muslim faith and Moroccan heritage, raised in Milan before moving to London in your late teens. It was a background that required you to become truly multilingual and can now sing in six different languages. How did that shape you into becoming the artist that you are today?

 

A) I have always been interested in learning multiple languages. In fact, at college in Italy I had studied languages and did English, French and German. I always loved being able to communicate with as many people as I could, and I noticed that I was a fast learner.

While working on music and realizing it’s also a universal language I thought that adding the languages factor to my music could have been something really special. It helps me feel connected on a deeper level with people around the world and I see that they appreciate when I do interviews in their countries speaking the same language they speak in that country.

 

Q) I absolutely love your new single “Lonely People.” Talk about the story behind it.

 

A) “Lonely People” has a timeless and universal meaning. It talks about loneliness, and this is something that after the global pandemic and lockdown people have felt even more than ever.

The magic about this song is that it doesn’t only speak about loneliness itself, but it pictures a world where lonely people could shine like stars to find each other and therefore be less lonely.

It was a concept I hadn’t really heard before to it really did spoke to me the first time I heard it, so what’s better than make it even more universal than recording the song in different languages?

 

Q) The song was also released with a Music Video directed by rising filmmaker and photographer Josh Gallo that expresses the song’s moving message in an understated but beautifully uplifting style. How involved were you in developing the concept for it?

 

A) I always like to be involved in the creative process of everything, so I was of course giving ideas for the music video. But I am also someone that believes that for certain things it’s better to listen to people that have been doing the job for a lot longer than you and I trust their vision. I love the people I worked with, and I trust them to only want the best for me. And, in fact, I truly loved the concept of the video that came out of it.

 

Q) “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). What was it like working with them?

 

A) I absolutely loved working with so many people and having such a wonderful team around, especially because this was my first ever single and I learnt so much.

Having such talented people around gave me a taste of what’s to come and how it is to work in this industry. I just hope to make them all proud!

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m very new to everything, so only after “Lonely People” I truly started writing my own songs and being involved in the process of making songs. The more I learn the more I like to have my input and give ideas of what I’d like to make. For “Lonely People” I almost did the vocals and only observed the rest, and for my next singles I actually have done much more and I hope people will like it as much!

 

Q) The single captures some of the feelings about isolation and loneliness, and the idea of ending loneliness. What do you expect people take away from it?

 

A) I really hope that people listening realize that there’s so many little things that can be done to change what’s around us. Even by just smiling or complimenting a stranger about something they are wearing you could have a positive impact on their day and that person will then go and have an impact on someone else’s day and it keeps going.

I, for example, remember that seven years ago I was at a birthday party and noticed a girl in the corner that wasn’t really participating, and the rest of people were all playing with water balloons, so I decided to take one and throw it at her to engage her into the activity and make her feels more included. She is now my best friend; her name is Chiara and we have been inseparable for seven years now.

All it takes is for people to look around and try to connect with others, and to especially listen to one another.

 

 Q) You are part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Since day one I found it very natural to post on social medias and interact with followers as much as I could. I have always been a person that loved to socialize, and I know I’m really good at connecting, talking and getting people to feel comfortable while talking to me.

So, social media to me is like interacting with family members that live far from me. It feels very special, and it fills up your day with joy.

I have learned how to deal with the negative side of social media so nothing worries me anymore because I know what I stand for and no matter how hard you try there will always be people that won’t like what you do. And I’m not doing this for them. I’m making music for the people that truly want to hear it.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I would absolutely love to collaborate with faouzia on maybe an Arabic/English song as we are both Moroccans and love the same genres. I also would love to collaborate with Jessie J and Alessia Cara.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your music?

 

A) I know this sounds like something that every person says, but I am truly grateful for the people that supported me and that still support me. Without them there would only be music that wouldn’t be heard, so they are the ones that make the magic and make this dream possible. I cannot wait to sell our shows and meet them all!