AZRA TALKS ALL OUT

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of culture as creative

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

With your mom also being a singer do you think you would be here today as an artist if it was not for your moms love of pop-music?

Though I think I would still be here today as an artist regardless, my mom loving music definitely helped me discover my love and passion for music sooner than if she was not into music. My mom took me to her choir practice since she was pregnant with me until I grew up and had to go to school. She would sit me next to her while she sang and I would just be mesmerized by both all the vocal sounds and the choir conductor waving his baton and hands. Even at home, my mom’s vinyls were always spinning as she hummed around the house. I loved coming home after school because she would be cooking after-school snacks in the kitchen with her apron on while playing music in the background. She was very supportive about me expressing myself, my interest in piano and violin lessons, music studies, participating in recitals, plays, and concerts. However, considering music as a career never really came up, because my parents were not knowledgeable or exposed to the entertainment industry, so music and the arts were considered to be a fun hobby.

Playing the piano, singing and dancing around my parent’s room with my mom’s hairbrush and music on. It all started when I was three years old.

Your new single 'ALL OUT' transports us to a world of your own creation, a sixth dimension where everyone can break free of the norms and be themselves. Did you always feel confident to go ALL OUT with capital letters, or was it a journey to get to be this super-cool person you now are?

(Laughs) Thanks! It has definitely been a long journey and still a continuous journey for me to feel empowered with myself and go all out, with capital letters, yes. Love that you noticed. For me, it took multiple experiences, reflections, and growing as a human and artist to begin breaking down the barriers that kept me from going completely all out. We, as emotional beings, are a constant work in progress and because everything, everywhere is happening all at once, multiple dimensions, and so on, we must process and work through the layers of feelings, positive or negative, so they don’t pile up unattended. For me, what really broke the barrier was that I became fed up with all the external influences and pressures, I stopped blaming and questioning myself and instead stood up and owned up to who I am and my self-worth even more. I completely trusted my intuition that’s always been right, and ultimately just gave my all at every moment. I think that I was always confident and social, but I had a lot of doubts, guilt and confusion towards my own authentic feelings due to the history I had interacting with the external world and the responses I received from those interactions. I know now that we are all made up of our experiences and everyone has their own lenses and ways of looking at life, therefore, the best way for all of us to live and to be free is truly embracing who we are and live all out, authentically to ourselves and others. This way, there is no room for guilt, doubt or judgment. I believe this is a life long process and the universe’s mission given to each and every one of us, on this earth plane. We are surrounded by influences and noise, so the sixth Dimension is a place I’ve created for us to go all out and be who we are unapologetically.

Is it an escape?

I do not want to call it an escape, but it is a mindstate, a shift in perspective, and a safe place, where we allow ourselves to break free and just be.

Do you consideryour songwriting to be a part of your growth process as a person, what does having "the show" with you in your life mean for you on a purely personal level?

Hundred percent. All of my songs are pretty much therapy, realizations, state of mind, feelings and affirmations. It’s a window into a slice of my life. I wrote 'ALL OUT' as a manifesto to remind myself and others to stay true to who we are and embrace our everything, even the reckless parts of ourselves. I listen to 'ALL OUT' now and it helps me in my life. Having the show, hmmm! I think really we are simultaneously the observer and the protagonist in our lives and we are creating our lives and future through our decisions. What is the difference between that and a movie script.

In the words of Japanese author Haruki Murakami, “Coming out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what the storm is all about”. Whatever storms brought you here, you certainly are on the other side them now. You seem to be in such a good space?

I absolutely love that quote! My goal this year is to continue to share my music and message in hopes to inspire and empower people to be more of their empowered, confident, unapologetic selves. I have tons of new music coming this year! I hope to also expand and get my music out to more people and expand the sixth dimension through live–performances, touring, merch and creating more music.

With the world as your stage, when will it be time to show up to perform here?

Just tell me when and I’ll be there! I’ve never been to Sweden and Scandinavia yet but I definitely hope to show up to perform, shake up your part of the world and dive into the sixth dimension together!