Coachella 2023: Palestinian-Chilean vocalist Elyanna talks history making set

In a trailblazing performance Saturday, Palestinian-Chilean vocalist Elyanna became the first Palestinian to perform at Coachella and the first-ever artist to perform a set in Arabic at the festival.

At just 21 years of age, Elyanna — born Elian Marjieh into a musical family in Nazareth —  is already a big name in the Arab-American music world. She’s been living in California for several years.

Her versatility was on full display Saturday as she crooned an Arabic cover of "La Vie en Rose" titled “Al Kawn Janni Mawk," rapped over her Egyptian pop hit “Ana Lahale” and hair-tossed and body-rolled her way through an energetic set. She also debuted an unreleased single, “Janene Orrr,” which translates to “Drive Me Crazy."

More: Coachella 2023: Palestinian vocalist Elyanna breaks ground for Arabic artists

Her brother was right by her side Saturday, accompanying her on keyboard throughout. Together, they performed a cover of the classic Egyptian ballad “Awhak,” a song she said the two of them “used to sing growing up.”

On Sunday, The Desert Sun sat down with Elyanna to discuss her historic set. The below conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

DS: Yesterday was a really big day for your career, and you got to enjoy it with your brother. Now that you’ve had a day to let it all soak in, how are you feeling?

E: I feel great. When I finished the performance, I felt so good. I had fun, and really that's the most important part, and I felt very comfortable on the stage. And it was so interesting that not only my friends were there and my family, but I saw a lot of people coming from different cultures ... And I saw lots of Palestinians wearing keffiyeh. It was really just a very touching moment for me.

And in addition to being a big moment for your career, your set was also a big milestone for Arabic music fans and Palestinians. How does that feel?

The fact that I didn't have to sing in English, or the fact that I didn't have to change myself, who I am, in order to sing in one of the biggest festivals in the world just is everything, because I'm just being who I am. I'm bringing my culture and introducing a new culture to everybody and (that) hopefully will open doors for artists like me, that sing in Arabic.

And you debuted a new song yesterday. So what's next for you? Can fans expect more new music soon?

Me and my brother have been working on a very unique album that I really love and that I'm very excited about. Yesterday, I sang a new song that's not out yet, but I just felt like I want to sing something unreleased ... It's very cool, it's a lot of rap, but it's very tribal, Arabic-inspired (music) with the Arabic scale vocals. So that album is in that world, which is why I'm so excited about it.

And I know you're already hugely popular in Arabic-speaking communities, and now you're growing even more in popularity. As you rise in fame, do you ever feel pressure to release English lyrics?

I don't want to ever feel pressure when it comes to music, I want to just feel joy when I make it. If you let in stress, if you let in pressure when you make the music, it's not gonna come from, that pure place, you know what I mean? So, definitely, hopefully, I would love to sing in English. I grew up singing jazz and English music. So it's not something that's very hard for me to do. But of course, I'm always gonna be including the Arabic touch.

And to do an entire set in Arabic on the Coachella stage — how did that feel now that you've had a day to reflect on that groundbreaking moment?

I feel very proud. Hearing Arabic at Coachella is like Coachella is speaking a new language ... And, it takes time for people to get what we're trying to do, but really, it's about art, it's about culture, it's about our instruments and our vocals, all the things that probably people haven't seen before and we're putting it on the map showing what we have. And I'm so honored to be the one that's representing it and to get an opportunity like this is a big step for my career.

And do you have any advice for other Arabic or international artists who want to have commercial success while singing in their native language?

I would say, don't try to be anybody else. Just be yourself and embrace who you are. ... For me, when I moved from my hometown, Nazareth, I got so much more connected to my roots, my Palestinian and my Chilean roots. Make sure you're always surrounded by passionate people and be passionate and don't rush things, because art takes time. And to make something good and unique, something that is timeless, takes time. So take your time when it comes to art.

And what would you like to say to your Palestinian fans today, after yesterday's performance?

Yesterday, I cried singing the classic Arabic song that I used to sing with my brother on the keys. Seeing my brother with me playing the keys was such an emotional moment for me. I actually cried onstage for the first time. ... But I was very emotional because our whole life we worked very hard, we had a dream and we wanted to make it come true. So it's for every Arab out there, every Palestinian. ... It's who I am. It's my culture. It's my people, and I wish them peace and love and I will always represent them. So me holding the keffiyeh gave me strength, and I saw a lot of people watching wearing the keffiyeh, it was amazing.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2023: Q&A with Palestinian-Chilean vocalist Elyanna