With a growing international audience and a gift for turning everyday emotions into timeless songwriting, Rawan is quickly establishing herself as one of the most engaging emerging voices in contemporary soul-infused pop. Blending jazz-tinged melodies, warm production and candid lyricism, the Egyptian American singer-songwriter creates music that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Her latest single 'Lazy Lover' continues that journey. Tackling the frustrations of modern dating with honesty, humour and effortless style, the track explores the quiet disappointment that comes when romance gives way to complacency. Rather than dwelling on dramatic heartbreak, Rawan shines a light on the subtle moments that slowly erode a relationship, delivering the message with soulful vocals and understated confidence.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was definitely the piano. Basic answer? I Don't Know? But listen... I can explain!
I still remember the first time I saw one being played live. I didn't really grow up around instruments, so most of my first experiences with them happened in high school. My choir teacher had this giant grand piano sitting right in the middle of the classroom, and I was completely hypnotized by it. I was like a kid in a candy store, just standing there thinking, "Please... just let me touch it once."
There's something about the piano that feels almost human. It can whisper, it can scream, and somehow it always knows exactly how to make you feel something. I've cried over piano pieces more times than I'd ever publicly admit... which, I guess, I've officially done now. So that's a little embarrassing. But if an instrument can make you laugh, cry, and completely lose track of time, I'd say that's a pretty good first love.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I think I've always been a dramatic person, so I've always loved dramatic music. I grew up listening to powerhouse voices like Nina Simone, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Etta James, and Jill Scott. If a song could make me feel like I'd just survived heartbreak before I even knew what heartbreak was, I loved it.
At the same time, I was also a full blown One Direction fangirl. I listened to them so much I can still sing most of their songs from memory. My school bus playlists would go from Jill Scott to One Direction without a second thought. Looking back, I guess I was a kid that had range.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I ever owned was Adele's 25, and I was so proud to buy it. I had just started working, so it was the first album I could buy with my own money. I asked my dad to take me to Best Buy on release day, and we waited in line to get it. The second we got back to the van, I put the CD in and hit play. It might seem like a small moment, but it felt like such a big milestone for me, and it's still one of my favorite memories.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Ugh, this is such a good question. I honestly don't think I'd give the same answer every time someone asks me, but today I'm going with "Save Room for Us" by Tinashe. To me, it's just a perfect song. It does everything right. The lyrics, the production, the vibe, the energy... it all just works. Every time I hear it, I think, "Dang, I wish I wrote that." It’s an iconic record.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I don't really have any specific writing rituals because my creative process is honestly kind of chaotic. Every song has its own journey. Sometimes I'll be washing dishes and suddenly hear a melody or a lyric in my head, and I have to stop everything to write it down before it disappears. Now that I'm saying it out loud, it sounds a little psychotic... but it's kind of like a That's So Raven moment. It just hits me out of nowhere.
I've tried to be the kind of person who blocks off time to write, but it rarely works that way. For me, songwriting usually happens when I'm deep in thought and trying to make sense of something. Sometimes the only way I can untangle what I'm feeling is by turning it into a song.
Who are your favorite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
This answer def changes every couple weeks but recently, I’ve been so into Silvana Estrada, Billianne, Olivia Rodrigo, and Vince Staples. If you can't tell already, my music taste is all over the place, lol.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Such a hard question! I feel like when I go about my day and day dream about this I imagine myself opening for artists like RAYE, SZA, Kehlani, or Jorja Smith.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I feel like there are different levels of what feels rewarding as a musician, both in creating and sharing music. I think the first rewarding part for me is finally making a sound or idea that’s been living in my head tangible. There’s something so satisfying about finally being able to describe a feeling or emotion I have through a sound or a lyric. It’s like, “Oh my god, THAT’S what I was trying to say.”
I think another really rewarding part is seeing people genuinely resonate with a song I’ve put out. Ugh, it’s such an amazing feeling when someone quotes a line I wrote and tells me how much it hit them. Like, YES! That is exactly what I was trying to say! There’s something really special about realizing that something that started as a very personal feeling in my own head somehow found its way into someone else’s life.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I think as an independent artist, the most frustrating part is doing everything by yourself. At the same time, it can also be the most rewarding part. Trying to wear multiple hats in a space where a whole team is usually required can be difficult.
As an independent artist, I’m not just writing songs and recording them. I also have to figure out how to make visuals, how to produce, mix, and master, how to strategically use social media, how to get my music onto all the streaming platforms, how to edit videos, color grade, run campaigns, and somehow make catchy videos that will actually get people to stop scrolling and listen to my music. There are SO many steps that go into making a song and actually getting it out into the world, and sometimes those are steps I genuinely do not want to be doing.
Most of the time, I just want to write songs and sing them. That’s the dream! But unfortunately, that’s not really the reality of being an independent artist. I’m not an expert at all of these things—I know how to sing and write songs—so having to figure everything else out from scratch can definitely be frustrating.
But honestly, that’s also what makes it so rewarding. Every time I figure out how to do something I had absolutely no idea how to do before, I’m like, “Wait… I did that?!” There’s something really empowering about realizing I can build something from the ground up, even if I had to Google half of it along the way.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
As a musician, I’ve received a lot of advice (sometimes unsolicited) but I think the best piece of advice I have received has come from other artists. One that really echoes in my brain came from an artist friend of mine, who once told me, “Never stop creating.” Even if it’s bad, even if it’s horrible, you have to keep making things. Not everything you make has to be perfect or even good. It just has to exist.
That really stuck with me because I sometimes stop creating because I’m afraid I won’t make something good or that it won’t come out the way I imagined it. But I think that’s the beautiful thing about art! It can evolve, grow, and change, and it reflects the time in your life when you made it. Especially now, in a world full of dread and burnout, I think being authentic and true to your soul—and taking responsibility for creating and nourishing that part of yourself—is really important. It’s something I want to keep reminding myself of.
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Rawan's new single 'Lazy Lover' is out now. Check it out in the player below.