Today, pop newcomer Bana shares her bold new single ‘Bag of Hearts’. Listen HERE.
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.
Frontrunning the hub of surging talent from her hometown, Bana has arrived to empower, and proudly represent Kurdish women in the industry. Her distinctive brand of unapologetic lyrics and punchy production has been crafted to instantly steal attention, as the starlet prepares to show the world what she is made of.
A song about a trickster who steals people’s hearts, ‘Bag of Hearts’ brims with a fierce, no-holds-barred attitude that’s matched with pulsing beats and catchy, Kurdish infused melodies which allow Bana’s outstanding vocals to take centre stage.
Speaking about the release, Bana says: “The song Bag of Hearts expresses the side of me that I have kept hidden for years. I have never sung with such passion in any of my songs before”
ABOUT BANA
Bana is the 22-year-old pop princess of Sulaymaniyah, the Kurdistan region’s capital of culture. Having taught herself to speak English through the lyrics of artists like Ariana Grande and One Direction, Bana entered TV singing competition Kurd Idol aged just 16, intending to be the only artist signing in English. Deciding at the last minute to perform one Kurdish song and one in English, Bana’s televised performances were an overnight success, quickly pulling her into the Kurdish music industry where she wrote and released Kurdish music for five years, including her debut album Diway Salêk.
When the opportunity presented itself, Bana came to London with the intention of recording her first English language singles. She would write 18 songs in these early sessions (including ‘Bag of Hearts’), spanning pop, house and even drum and bass production.
Across her forthcoming single releases, Bana weaves elements of Kurdish music, complex melody, local instruments and heavy beats, with a maximalist popstar sheen. In the face of potential controversy at home, Bana is defiant in her approach.
With both her Kurdish debut album and her forthcoming English tracks, Bana’s drive, optimism and vocal ability shine through. “I want to make a difference in my country and to be an example for young Kurdish girls,” she declares. “Whatever their dream is, I want to be an example. I exist and you can too.”