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Interview with
BANA
(5th September 2025)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Have you always wanted to be an artist? When did you get the song writing bug?
Music has always been my calling. I’ve wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. The real turning point came after my experience on Kurd Idol. Before then and during the show, I was focused on performing other artists’ songs, but the moment when I got into the studio and started creating my own music, everything clicked. That’s when I discovered the magic of songwriting. It’s an incredible feeling to translate my own stories and experiences into music, and from that moment on I’ve had the songwriting bug.

Briefly describe your journey to date.
My journey began at 16 on Kurd Idol, which was a formative experience. After the show, I spent years releasing Kurdish singles and building a dedicated fanbase, which lead up to my debut Kurdish album. But I’ve always had a vision of bridging my cultural roots with global pop music. This led me to London, where I started writing and recording my English language music, creating over 40 records in the process. Now, I’m in a really exciting phase of exploring my sound and identity as an artist, working with different producers and writers in both London and LA. I’m focused on releasing singles in both Kurdish and English, letting my sound evolve organically before committing to a full body of work.

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How would you describe your sound? Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
I would describe my sound as unapologetically pop and versatile. I refuse to be boxed in, so I love to experiment with different genres and sounds and that’s what pop means to me. The core of my music is about empowerment and having fun, and I think that’s what makes fans connect with it. It’s feel-good music that also takes them on a journey. It’s a world where they can discover new sounds, instruments and melodies.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
Artists like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Lady Gaga are huge inspirations for me. What I admire most about them is their unwavering authenticity. They are true to themselves and their artistic vision, no matter what. That’s a lesson I carry with me every day in my own career. They remind me to stay true to who I am and to express my feelings to the fullest, without holding anything back.

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Your latest single ‘Kiss Your Best Friend’ has just been released! What’s it all about? Describe its origin and evolution. 
Kiss Your Best Friend is a fun pop track that at first I didn’t like upon first listen but after cutting a bunch of songs I gave it a chance and the next day I woke up and was like wait this is a cool pop song. It is an intrusive thought that talks about getting revenge on someone who hurt you deeply. There’s a line “I’ll never hurt you like you hurt me” which is basically saying that no matter how much you try to get back at a person and do the worst thing imaginable nothing will equal the amount of hurt they did to you.

Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
For now, I’m focusing on exploring my sound through singles. I have a lot of music that I’ve already recorded, all of which are sonically different from each other, but I want to be really intentional about my first major body of work. It’s important to me to build a strong foundation and carve a sound that truly represents who I am. So the creative process for a full album is something I’m very excited about but I want to make sure the timing is perfect and the vision is fully realised for when I choose to do that.

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What tours and events are coming up? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
My fans can definitely expect a lot of new music from me in both English and Kurdish. I’m spending a lot of time in London and LA right now, constantly writing and recording. The creative process is my main focus, but I’m also thinking about doing a concert in my hometown. The thought of performing for my most dedicated fans in Kurdistan is something I’ve dreamed about for a long time, and I can’t wait to give them a truly special show. Especially after hosting my first fan event there this past summer.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Without a doubt, it would be Whitney Houston. She is my vocal role model and one of the greatest singers of all time. Performing with her would be a masterclass in vocal power and stage presence, and an absolute honor.

What are your long-term aspirations as a music artist and how are you progressing towards them?
I’ve always had big dreams and a clear vision for my future as an artist. My biggest aspiration is to become the first global Kurdish pop star, using music to connect our voice and our story to the world. I’m progressing towards this dream by embracing every part of my identity and staying true to my vision. I’m focused on creating music that is authentic to me and my heritage, and that’s the biggest dream I could ever have.

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With that in mind, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out? 
My best advice is to first and foremost, figure out who you are as an artist and what you want to say. Once you have that clarity, surround yourself with people who can help enhance that vision, bring it to life, and, most importantly, believe in you. Having a community that supports you and reminds you of your ‘why’ is absolutely crucial on this journey.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
Performing live is where everything comes to life. My career started on a live stage during a 6 month singing competition, and that experience completely changed me in the best way. It taught me how to perform under pressure and built my confidence in a way nothing else could. While it’s been a while since I’ve been on stage and I’m a little nervous to get back to that, I’m more confident in my music and myself than ever before. When I’m performing, I go into a different mode, a kind of alter ego and it’s a feeling like no other. The best thing is connecting with the audience and sharing that energy with them. A career highlight so far would be performing at my One Night Only fan event this past summer where I got to sing up close with my die hard fans and meet them all face to face.

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Let’s end with some quickfire questions. Firstly about yourself:
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done? Deciding to move to London on my own was definitely the craziest thing. I’d never traveled alone before, so leaving everything behind to pursue my dream was a huge step into the unknown. It was a big change, but a necessary one.
What is the one topic you can talk about for hours? I could talk about life and philosophy for hours. I love exploring big ideas.
What is the thing you like most about yourself? My endless motivation. When I’m passionate about something, I’m completely dedicated to it.

And finally, just a few questions about your favorites (current or all time) –
Album – Hit me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish
Artist – Lady Gaga I recently just saw her perform at The Mayhem Ball
Movie – Interstellar
Place to visit – My Grandma’s House
Venue to play – I’m yet to discover this as I wait to return to live performances
Food – Steak  
Drink – Water
Person in History –  Cleopatra
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  I have 11:11 tattooed on the back of my neck which is my angel number.

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Follow BANA
Website – Instagram – Spotify
Facebook – YouTube – TikTok

Press Release 4th September 2025 (below)

BANA
returns with
brand new single
‘AIR’

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‘Rapid-rising’ — EUPHORIA

BANA, the boundary-pushing pop artist bridging Kurdish heritage with contemporary global sounds, follows up recent single “Kiss Your Best Friend” with a scintillating new offering titled “Air”.

Continuing to establish herself as one of the most captivating and distinctive new voices in global pop, BANA shapes a unique artistic identity drawn from her dual cultural heritage. Already a celebrated young star in the Kurdish music scene and now a bold new entrant into English-language pop, BANA’s latest single “Air” showcases an artist in full evolution. Blending rich musicality, emotional storytelling and global ambition, “Air” emerges as an irresistible house-inspired track, layered with infectious percussion, vibrant synth-lines, and BANA’s powerful vocals. It arrives as a definitive summer anthem, perfectly timed for the season’s final months. With “Air”, BANA fully faces the estero pop landscape, embracing contemporary pop sensibilities and a razor-sharp aesthetic.

Speaking on “Air”, BANA explains: “Air is a love song about someone so essential to you that living without them feels as impossible as living without air. The song captures the intensity of a love so deep, it feels like oxygen – without it, there’s no life.”

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BANA has already made a significant impact with major releases such as her viral Kurdish-language single “Birwa Nakem”—which earned direct support from TikTok’s Breakthrough Programme. The track continues to build momentum, amassing over 132M views and 55K sound creations on TikTok, alongside more than 7.8M views on YouTube—cementing her rare ability to navigate and resonate across both regional and global music spheres.

With her feet always planted in western fashion, last year saw BANA styled by Kirsty Stewart (FLO, Zara Larson) and most recently, her English-language music video campaign has showcased a sophisticated new visual direction, led by stylist Lucy Bonner.

Outside the studio, BANA is an active advocate for women’s rights in Kurdistan through her work with SEED Foundation, and finds balance through fitness, fashion and wellness. Whether on stage, on screen, or staying active outside, she represents a new kind of artist -fearless, diasporic and entirely her own.

With a number of releases on the way, whilst working closely with Mojam (One Direction, Sam Smith, Jessie Ware, Emeli Sandé), Starsmith (Ellie Goulding, Zedd, Clean Bandit, Lady Gaga) and Frances (Dua Lipa, SG Lewis, Jess Glynne, Maisie Peters), 2025 looks set to be a milestone year for one of the hottest new voices in the pop landscape. The immediate gloss and polish of BANA’s output points to the rapid assertion and focus of a genuinely compelling global talent.

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AMNPLIFY – DB