Over the last five years Elyanna has emerged as a radiant new voice amongst the Palestinian-Chilean diaspora. A few months ago she announced her first headline tour in the U.S. but after the attacks on Gaza she postponed it, making the announcement via Instagram along with a song of solidarity for her people. Those dates have now been rescheduled including a show at The Observatory in Santa Ana on Wednesday, February 21st with Elyanna donating all the proceeds of merchandise sold to the children of Gaza.
With two EPs to her name Elyanna has earned high praise the moment she started dropping music in 2018. Since then she’s even been heralded as the “Arabic Rihanna” — and indeed there are moments when her pitch and flow seem to align with Barbadian artist. But similarities abound also in the way Elyanna’s music reveals a determined and dexterous talent for combining cross-cultural genres into intoxicatingly glamorous alt-pop.
Elyanna — whose real name is Elian Marjieh — grew up in Nazareth before moving to California at the age of 15-years-old. As a child she was surrounded by artistic relatives that included her poet mother and poet/singer grandfather. Her first foray into music began with daily practices with her brother, who played the piano and also wrote his own songs. A performer from a young age, Elyanna was six-years old when she developed the habit of borrowing her mom’s heels and coat to perform songs in front of the mirror.
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By the time she was a teenager a decision was made to move to the U.S. to continue Elyanna’s career in Los Angeles. After catching the attention of Nasri and his manager Wassim Slaiby she released one of her first singles “Ana Lahale” (feat. Massari). From there the only direction she had to go was up, dropping her debut EP Elyanna in 2020, with tracks like “Ya Waylak” and “Shee” showcasing her ability to easily slip between the rhythms and sounds of different genres and continents.
Two years later she returned with Elyanna 2 — a stunning expansion in the emotionality of her sound that opens with the piano-led ballad “Ghareeb Alay” and also features a cover of “La Vie en rose” as “Al Kawn Janni Maak.” In the aftermath of that release she made history with an all Arabic set at the Coachella 2023. Her recent single “MAMA EH” pushes the envelope on her ever shape-shifting arrangements, fusing her captivating vocals to the buoyant sonic impact of scattered beats and glimmering electronics.
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See Elyanna at The Observatory in Santa Ana on Wednesday, February 21st.
Visit Elyanna on her website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Elyanna tour
JAN 29 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
JAN 30 – The Studio at the Factory – Dallas, TX
FEB 4 – The Opera House – Toronto, ON
FEB 6 – Théâtre Beanfield – Montreal, QC
FEB 9 – Howard Theatre – Washington, D.C.
FEB 10 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY
FEB 13 – Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
FEB 14 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
FEB 19 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
FEB 21 – The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
Listen to “MAMA EH” one of the new singles from Elyanna below!
