For this issue’s edition of Fann w Fenjen, we sat down with Lebanese artist Yal Solan, who has built a career that fuses both tradition and modernity in the best of ways.
Yal Solan, singer, songwriter, and poet, reflects on her early years as a quiet student who discovered her passion for music during her university years. Photo courtesy of Yara Bsaibes at Tota Beirut.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Yal Solan. I’m a singer, songwriter, and poet. I’m a graphic designer and animator by profession and I work as a fashion model and voice over artist. Well, that’s enough titles for now!
What led you to pursue singing?
Ever since I was little, I was the shy quiet girl who listens to her CD player and finds comfort in watching singers on TV. I always was naturally drawn to music even though my family and upbringing had nothing to do with the scene. I never, ever thought of pursuing singing.
In school, I was the black sheep who was a grade-A math nerd but a secretly closeted artist. And then I majored in graphic design. In university, I happened to stumble upon and apply to the choir, and that is where my musical journey started. I was looking forward to the part of the day where I had choir practice; I was more excited about it than my actual classes. I fell in love with singing, specifically classical baroque music at the time. But then life happened again, and I had to find a job after graduating. I lasted two years in the corporate world before I went freelance, but there’s this saying that says “You quit the 9-to-5 to work 24/7.” I had been struggling to find time for this elusive passion.
Yal’s words evolved from writing poetry in notebooks to developing them into her distinct blend of soulful pop and oriental rhythms. Photo courtesy of Yara Bsaibes at Tota Beirut.
Up until now, my chase for music has been escaping the throes of capitalism, and the numbness of the soul that comes with it. But I realized there were piles of notebooks filled with my poems that have been calling me to say them, melodies in my head waiting to be realized into songs, with time only passing by.
To me, singing is freedom. It’s a way to share the magic of living as an awakened soul. I went from someone who was on autopilot and doing what’s expected of them, to someone carving their own path, someone who feels alive and is making music to awaken this feeling of aliveness in other people as well.
Yal stands at the intersection of tradition and rebellion, boldly defining her career on her terms as a musician and creative visionary. Still from the ‘La7ali’ music video courtesy of Yal Solan.
How have people around you reacted to you pursuing what is considered an untraditional career path?
Well, my family has no idea what I’m doing! They always tell me: “We don’t understand what you do, but we’re proud of you.” Some of them express financial concern for a path that’s much less “stable” than what they’re familiar with. Others express safety concerns, given what they know of the art scene “back in the day.” Some totally avoid the topic! What’s most interesting is one of my family members who is very religious but also very independent in her thinking. I’ve always been close to her and I show her videos of me performing, some of them in pubs, or in which I’m dressed in a more revealing way, but she’s always encouraging, saying things like “You keep getting better at what you do. I always knew you were special.” My friends obviously are very supportive. There are some people who knew me from many years ago, who are quite surprised, and I can’t blame them! It’s funny because there were many times I’ve been told things like “Where did all this voice come from?”
Solan plays a Tibetan singing bowl, a key element in her “Soul Fusion” sound. Still from the La7ali music video. Photo courtesy of Yal Solan.
How would you describe the style of music that you create?
I call it “Soul Fusion”: It’s the best way I can describe my music for now. It’s a mix of soul singing, spoken word poetry, and an eclectic blend of instruments that give a nod to my roots and inspirations, harmonies, and layering. There’s also a world music aspect to it, as other cultures have been so inspiring for me musically & spiritually.
In “Silent Fireworks,” I used an Irish nay. In my live performances, I’ve had handpan players, and I even use my very own Tibetan singing bowl in live concerts and in “La7ali”.
I’ve been recently practicing the didgeridoo, a native Australian instrument. I love it because it connects you to your breath and the vibrations within your body. And performing with it live with the band is on a whole other level.
Yal’s music explores themes of self-realization, spirituality, and raw human emotions, expressing them in ways that transcend ordinary conversation. Still from the “La7ali” music video, courtesy of Yal Solan.
What topics do you look to tap into through your art?
The topics in my music always come from an introspective place within me. I’m very spiritually inclined, so I write a lot about self-realization, divine feminine energy, and the wonder of the universe, but also about more earthly and human feelings like raw sensuality, love, and heartbreak.
Such themes are not exactly everyday conversations, and that’s specifically why I express them through music. It’s really the most wonderful way to transfer the feeling behind them into music.
“La7ali,” Yal Solan’s debut Arabic track, marks a significant milestone in her career. She honors her cultural roots by taking full creative control as both a writer and composer. Still from the “La7ali” music video. Photo courtesy of Yal Solan.
Your musical career began with you singing in English, but you’ve begun integrating more Arabic into your singing and shows. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
I initially began writing and performing in English, and it felt incomplete, but at the same time, I didn’t feel ready to sing in Arabic. I think a lot of it stems from the fact that, growing up, we had this imported culture. Everything was and is in English: movies, music, tv shows. At the same time, I didn’t feel represented by our commercial Arabic music. I knew I didn’t relate to it. But I’m on a mission to make music that sounds like me– like us– and I thought, doing that must lie in making music in my mother tongue. So now, I’m on this path of rediscovering my mother tongue on a deeper level, and seeing how I can express myself through it.
“La7ali,” for instance, was the first song that was fully written in Arabic. And to my surprise, the words came very easily and naturally to me.
“La7ali” emphasizes taking time away for solitude, self-care, and self-awareness. These are terms our generation is learning to embrace, and we’re lucky enough to know what they are in this day and age. I believe that with this growing modernity, we are also growing in our inner world, and that’s where my music comes in.
Within the frame of tradition and modernity, our modern world has become increasingly demanding, and I think our subject matter in terms of songwriting needs to reflect the times and needs that come with it.
What inspired you to write your song “Toss and Turn”?
The song talks about walking out of dynamics where you’re only valued for your physical appearance. I was reflecting on how the objectification of women is something that’s been passed down through generations: It made me reflect on how my mother, my grandmother, and great grandmother grew up as trophy wives: they were raised to be obedient, polished, and people-pleasers, to have their life decisions be taken for them. Some of us even learn to betray ourselves to get affection. I wanted to get myself out of that loop. While some traditions are precious, other societal norms require you to, as a woman, neglect and betray yourself to feel like you belong.
The song’s title is “Toss and Turn” because I see this process of norms being passed down generations as cyclical, like a toxic cycle that must be put an end to. I even talk about the concept of time and beauty in my lyrics: “Am I an hourglass cheating my time to last.” The song is meant to show that we, as women, are more than our bodies or the roles that society expects us to fill. The song itself is full of exaggerated feminine visuals, because I also finally feel connected to my femininity, especially since, for the longest time, I wanted nothing to do with the traditional notion of being feminine due to the connotations society ascribed to it. We had different looks in the song’s video, one of them being very dark, to reflect the power in femininity. Femininity is often righteously attributed to softness, sweetness, and love, but it also has a power behind it as well.
Yal Solan gained recognition in the Arab world by performing “Chou Original,” the theme song for Salon Zahra, in collaboration with her mentor Mike Massy. Video courtesy of Mike Massy on YouTube.
Who are artists you draw inspiration from?
My biggest inspiration thus far has been the brilliant Mike Massy, not just through his music, but he’s also been a precious mentor since day one.
Tamino inspires me a lot with his soulfulness, and how he integrates his Arab roots in his music.
Aurora really inspires me with her identity as well, and how she translates her activism in her music.
There’s also Sevdaliza, Sabrina Claudio, Pomme… And of course Zeid Hamdan with his versatility and production genius, Lynn Adib and her vocal mastery, and both of them together!
Yal Solan is a multifaceted artist, who balances her passion for yoga, environmental advocacy, and self-managed music career. Photo courtesy of Yara Bsaibes at Tota Beirut.
Who is Yal outside of being a singer?
If I were to define myself with something else I’d say Yal is a yogi. At the end of the day you’d find me practicing yoga, dancing, or working out. I’m a very curious soul, always looking for deeper ways to exist as a human. I love spending time in nature, I’m vegan, and I’m quite passionate about the environment. I’m a very hardworking person as well. When I’m not being an artist, I’m hustling, responding to emails, managing myself as well as my band, preparing setlists & booking concerts, pitching, and doing PR. I don’t think that’s what people imagine an artist doing, but, this is the reality when you’re self-managed. At the end of the day, it’s all worth it.
What are projects you’re excited about in the near future?
I’m currently working on new originals as part of my debut EP. It’s been a dream in the making for a while now but I’m letting it take the time it needs. I’ll be releasing some of those originals individually, like little yummy breadcrumbs leading up to then.
I’m also super excited about upcoming collaborations with music producers from across the MENA region. I’m getting exposed to beautiful ethnic music along the way. Working with a producer whose style is influenced by a background totally different from mine has been a super inspiring process and I can’t wait to share what’s been cooking!
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