Elyanna

Elian Marjieh, professionally known as Elyanna, is a Palestinian-Chilean singer-songwriter born on January 22, 2002, in Nazareth. Elyanna has emerged as a rising star in the global music scene, blending Arabic music with Latin rhythms to create a unique and experimental Arab-pop sound. Her music, deeply rooted in her multicultural heritage, reflects her identity as a bridge between the Middle East and Latin America, captivating audiences worldwide.

Elyanna’s musical journey began at a young age, influenced by a family deeply involved in the arts. Her mother is a Palestinian poet, and her maternal grandfather was a well-known poet and singer who performed traditional Palestinian zajal at weddings. From the age of seven, Elyanna showed a natural talent for singing, which her family nurtured. Her early influences included legendary artists like Julio Iglesias and Sabah Fakhri, whose music helped shape her distinctive sound.

As a teenager, Elyanna began posting covers of popular songs on SoundCloud and participated in various singing competitions. Her early performances gained her popularity within her community, where she often performed alongside her brother Feras, who played the piano. Feras later became an integral part of her musical career, serving as her pianist, producer, and creative director, while her sister, Tali, took on the role of her stylist.

In 2017, at age 15, Elyanna and her family relocated to San Diego, California, to pursue her music career more seriously. The move proved pivotal, as she soon caught the attention of Grammy-winning producer Nasri Atweh after gaining a substantial following on Instagram. Nasri introduced Elyanna to Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, a prominent music executive who quickly signed her to his management company, SALXCO. This connection led to her collaboration with Canadian-Lebanese artist Massari on her debut single “Ana Lahale,” featured on her self-titled EP released in 2020.

Elyanna’s career continued to ascend when she became one of the first artists signed to Universal Arabic Music (UAM), a newly formed imprint under Republic Records and Universal Music Group. In 2022, she released her second EP, Elyanna II, which included the popular single “Al Kawn Janni Maak,” an Arabic rendition of the classic “La Vie en Rose.” The music video for the track was directed by Caroline “Chuck” Grant, the sister of Lana Del Rey, who also contributed to the project by styling Elyanna.

In 2023, Elyanna made history as the first artist to perform entirely in Arabic at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, marking a significant milestone in her career. Her song “Ala Bali” was featured on the Netflix series Mo, further broadening her audience. Elyanna’s debut studio album, Woledto, was released in 2024, receiving critical acclaim for its innovative fusion of Arab pop, R&B, EDM, and jazz. The album, praised for its exploration of themes like love, loss, and cultural resilience, solidified her status as a global music icon.

Elyanna has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including Billboard Arabia, Vogue Arabia, and Rolling Stone. She also made a notable appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2024, performing with British rock band Coldplay. With her unique sound and powerful stage presence, Elyanna continues to break barriers and redefine what it means to be an Arab pop artist on the global stage.