Juno (Instagram), or Jannah Emam, is an Egyptian Indie/synth-pop singer, musician and visual artist. We spoke to the emerging artist about her passion for music.
Juno, take us back to when your passion for music first started. Is there any specific memory that comes to mind?
One of my earliest memories of feeling truly moved by and passionate about music was when I was around 9 years old. I went with my family to watch my older sister perform at a jazz concert with an entire band. This was probably one of my first times attending a live concert, just watching my sister perform and give her all on that stage made me feel like there was magic being created… a kind of magic I had never seen before. I knew then that music was something that I wanted to explore and shortly after, I started taking piano lessons. So I owe a lot to my sister for planting this seed inside of me.
As an Egyptian Indie singer, what challenges did you face throughout your journey?
One challenge I continue to face is the lack of venues and spaces that host live bands in Cairo. I can literally count them on one hand. These limitations can be very frustrating for an emerging artist who wants to spread their music across different crowds and spaces. Unfortunately, the underground music scene in Cairo grows at a very slow pace compared to other music scenes. Also, being an Egyptian artist who predominantly writes in English limits me from reaching a wider audience in the region and makes it harder for some to relate to my lyrics.
Describe your songwriting process.
Living in this chaotic city, I very often feel distracted and drained from everyday life. So writing does not come that easily to me. I need to be somewhat secluded and isolated from these distractions in order to write more freely. Once I do start writing and have structured the lyrics, I will grab my keyboard or guitar and find the most suitable chord progression. My final step in songwriting is creating the melody and harmonies, which is the most exciting part for me.
Your music reflects your curiosity with sound, what other genres would you consider tapping into, and why?
I listen to a really wide range of music and find myself drawn to so many different genres that I want to explore. Although I do think I’m closer to finding a sound that fits me, my curiosity on how far I can take my music is infinite, so I don’t want to settle for one specific sound. I want to explore jazz, pop, hyper pop, post-punk and so much more. There is an ocean of sound that awaits me.
Does your cultural background influence any of your work? If so, how?
Growing up, I didn’t consider myself to have been in touch with my culture, on the contrary, I was heavily influenced by the West and felt the need to distance myself from my background in order to allow myself to grow authentically. Now that I’m at a much more comfortable place with my identity and am finding my voice in the world, I am more open to the idea of tapping into my roots further and finding ways I can highlight it in my work.
What has been your most memorable performance to date?
I was lucky enough to play at two festivals this past year. I got to play on the beach at ‘Shorelines’ in the summer, and had my first performance outside of Egypt; at ‘Femme Fest’ for XP Music Futures in Riyadh.
I got to share the stage with so many wonderful artists from all across the MENA region and beyond. It feels really good to be recognized, to be part of something so big.
Who do you dream of collaborating with?
I would love to collaborate with Alice Phoebe Lou, Aurora or Beach House. Or all of the above! From the MENA region, I’d also love to collaborate with Zeid Hamdan and El Waili.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals? What are they?
Taking my sweet time getting ready, doing my make-up, and most importantly, warming up my vocals.
Who are you behind the stage name?
Behind the stage name, I am Jannah, daughter of Gulnar and Mohamed. Brought up in Maadi, where the trees grow thicker than anywhere else in Cairo. I seek adventures and to surround myself with beautiful things and people. A lover of the sea and all of its mystical creatures, I long to travel the world and spread music and art along the way.
Photography: Nensi Ragab (Instagram)
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