Breaking into the music industry is a dream many aspire to, but few achieve, as it requires a blend of raw talent, relentless hard work, and the ability to stand out in a fiercely competitive landscape. The road to success is often riddled with challenges, from securing funding for quality production to navigating industry gatekeepers and building a loyal fan base in a world dominated by algorithms and ever-changing trends. For emerging artists, cultural barriers, lack of representation, and limited access to global platforms can make the journey even tougher. However, one artist who has defied the odds and made a significant mark on the worldwide music scene is Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna. Known for her enchanting voice and unique blend of Arabic and Western musical influences, Elyanna has captivated audiences worldwide, proving that authenticity and cultural pride can resonate universally.
The world got to know about her breathtaking vocal prowess when COLDPLAY called her onto the stage during their performance at Glastonbury in June 2024. Elyanna didn’t let this opportunity slip and gave a powerful performance by mixing Arab music with Latin beats. The singer got together with the popular band to perform ‘Arabesque’ on the stage and floored everyone with her range and voice. After that performance, there was no going back for her, and went on to collaborate with COLDPLAY on their track ‘We Pray’. These days, Elyanna is touring with the aforementioned band on their ‘Music of the Spheres’ World Tour and is steadily building a devoted fanbase with her soulful voice, unique fusion of Arabic and Western sounds, and magnetic stage presence. Whether it was UAE or India, whenever she took the stage, she made sure to leave a lasting impression with her electrifying performances.
But, how did she start her career, and what led her to this path? Here’s what we know about the 23-year-old talented musician.
Image Courtesy: @elyanna/Instagram)
She started singing at the age of 7
It’s often said that pursuing a career as a musician or sportsperson requires starting preparations at a young age, and Elyanna is a perfect example of this. While speaking in an interview with ABC News in April 2023, the musician noted that she started singing at the age of 7 and heard songs from legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Amy Winehouse.
Elyanna, whose real name is Elian Margieh, was always inclined towards the field of arts, thanks to her parents. Her mother is a published poet, while her maternal grandfather is a Palestinian poet and singer. On the other hand, her paternal grandmother is a pianist and hails from Chile. So, Elyanna followed their footsteps and began her career in the field of music. As a beginner, she sang covers of several songs and posted them on Soundcloud. Soon, she started getting recognition for her voice and began a journey to fulfill her dreams of becoming a professional musician.
Her family moved to the United States to kickstart her career
Elyanna’s brother, Feras, was the first person to discover her singing prowess and didn’t leave any stone unturned to encourage her to continue with her passion. To make sure that she gets a good start to her career, Elyanna’s family moved to the US where she started posting covers of her songs on Instagram. Soon, 300,000 people were listening to the musician on the social media platform. This is when Grammy-winning producer Nasri Atweh discovered her and started working with her.
Nasri would later introduce Elyanna to Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, who manages The Weeknd and co-founded the record label XO with the singer. Sal went to sign Elyanna to his management company, SALXCO, after their meeting and started working on music. In February 2020, she released her first EP, titled ‘Elyanna’. The EP went on to become a big hit and songs like ‘Shee,’ ‘Oululee Leh,’ and ‘Ana Lahale’ featured on several Top 10 charts in the Middle East region. On the other hand, her second EP, ‘Elyanna II,’ turned out to be even more successful.
Elyanna made history at Coachella in 2023
Coachella has a long history of giving young artists a chance to showcase their talents and in 2023, Elyanna got a chance to tell the world how talented she really is. In 2023, she became the first-ever artist to perform her entire routine in Arabic at the prestigious event. During her routine, she sang songs like ‘Al Kawn Janni Mawk,’ which is an Arabic cover of the famous French song ‘La Vie en Rose’. Conversely, she also performed ‘Ana Lahale,’ ‘Janene Orre’ (Drive Me Crazy), and several tracks from her first two EPs.
The musician received universal acclaim for her performance and made everyone believe that Elyanna is a shining new star in the world of music.
Elyanna performs at the Gobi Tent during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, April 14, 2023, in Indio, Calif.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Coachella
Her family is a big part of her musical career
Elyanna’s family moved to the US so that she could begin her career, but that’s not the only way the family has helped her over the years. Her brother, Feras, is a piano player who frequently shares the stage whenever she performs LIVE. Recently, the brother-sister duo played a beautiful rendition of ‘Olive Branch’ in Abu Dhabi while opening for COLDPLAY in January 2024. On the other hand, the singer’s sister, Tali, is her stylist and accompanies her everywhere.
Tali, Elyanna’s sister and stylist, has a unique process when it comes to curating her sister’s look for each performance. In an interview with Vogue Arabia, Tali shared that the duo always makes it a point to arrive early at the location of Elyanna’s shows. This allows them to explore the city, immersing themselves in its atmosphere, culture, and energy. The vibe of the city plays a crucial role in influencing Elyanna’s outfits, as Tali carefully tailors each look to reflect the essence of the surroundings while complementing Elyanna’s artistic persona. Whether it’s a bustling metropolis or a serene coastal town, the city’s character becomes a canvas for Tali’s creativity, ensuring that Elyanna’s style resonates with the audience and the spirit of the venue.
She released her first studio album in April 2024
The success of two EPs – ‘Elyanna’ and ‘Elyanna II’ – paved the way for her first studio album, titled ‘Woledto,’ (English translation: ‘I Am Born’) in April 2024. The album was a perfect blend of Arab pop, R&B, and jazz. Also, the album showcased Elyanna’s versatility as an artist, seamlessly weaving traditional Arabic melodies with contemporary beats and heartfelt lyrics that resonated with listeners worldwide. Tracks like ‘Mama Eh’ and ‘Ganeni’ received worldwide recognition for their beautiful beats and lyrics.
In 2024, Elyanna received two awards – Top New Artist and Top Arabic Indie Female Artist – at the Billboard Arabia Music Awards.
Image Courtesy: @elyanna/Instagram)
Elyanna performed with Coldplay during their ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour
In January 2024, Grammy-winning band COLDPLAY performed in Abu Dhabi and India as a part of their ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour. Every leg of the tour had a mystery guest, who would open for the band. For the UAE and India leg, the band announced that Elyanna would be one of the musicians who would perform before they took the stage. This opportunity gave Elyanna a massive platform to shine once again, introducing her music to thousands of new listeners and cementing her status as a rising global star. Performing alongside a world-renowned band like Coldplay allowed her to showcase her unique blend of Arabic and Western influences on an international stage, earning her praise for her captivating vocals and stage presence.
They also performed ‘We Pray’ on stage, a track that features Elyanna as one of the guest artists. In one instance, Coldplay’s lead vocalist, Chris Martin, loved her verse so much that he stopped the performance and requested Elyanna to sing her verse again, labeling her as the “rising star” in the field of music.
After listening to her in Abu Dhabi and India, I believe that she indeed is one of the voices that people should definitely check out.