SHAB
Talks to pauliepaul
On The Release of her Perfect Single
'spell on me'
About
The mesmerizing pop-leaning "Spell on Me" single was helmed by Grammy-winning producer Damon Sharpe, who is known for his work producing Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez and more. Featuring a steady stream of feel-good hooks, SHAB draws on her own romantic torment, crafting raw lyrics to her lover and heartfelt reflections on surrendering herself to intimacy.
Through power ballads and dance floor anthems with the upcoming album, SHAB harnesses anguish and devotion, as she traces journeys of femme self-discovery.
This mother of two has spent the last few years gaining a loyal Persian fanbase around the world, establishing herself as a pop goddess with purpose. Her new "Spell on Me" music video alternates between playful and surreal.
An eclectic mix of sounds ring throughout her new album as she opts for a mix of urban tilting songs, pop ballads, and dance inducing knockouts. She combines and energizes familiar dance-pop sounds to make music worth getting lost in. With effortlessly huge choruses and distinct yet unpredictable vocals that's eccentric in the purest of pop sense.
SHAB delivers a kaleidoscope of sound that goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics.
Through power ballads and dance floor anthems with the upcoming album, SHAB harnesses anguish and devotion, as she traces journeys of femme self-discovery.
This mother of two has spent the last few years gaining a loyal Persian fanbase around the world, establishing herself as a pop goddess with purpose. Her new "Spell on Me" music video alternates between playful and surreal.
An eclectic mix of sounds ring throughout her new album as she opts for a mix of urban tilting songs, pop ballads, and dance inducing knockouts. She combines and energizes familiar dance-pop sounds to make music worth getting lost in. With effortlessly huge choruses and distinct yet unpredictable vocals that's eccentric in the purest of pop sense.
SHAB delivers a kaleidoscope of sound that goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics.
INTERVIEW 05/11/2020 - SHAB talks to pauliepaul – On The Release of 'SPELL ON ME'.
Hi Shab, thanks for this, we managed the Texas to London technology - just - Firstly, I love the song, and the video, it looks like fun, are you enjoying it!?
Oh yes, it is so much fun. The whole production process is really magical, it has to be.
Can you relax though, when you're performing, or are you working to a strict ...?
Paulie I have an amazing team, and we want this to be perfect for our fans, so usually we prep some choreography of course, but the director never tells me what the scenes are going to be, so when I get on set, each scene is a surprise for me, I’m just kind of thrown into it!
I know the basic storyline, but not how it is being set up, so there is a lot of spontaneity. I kinda like that, because there is an element of mystery about it!
Oh yes, it is so much fun. The whole production process is really magical, it has to be.
Can you relax though, when you're performing, or are you working to a strict ...?
Paulie I have an amazing team, and we want this to be perfect for our fans, so usually we prep some choreography of course, but the director never tells me what the scenes are going to be, so when I get on set, each scene is a surprise for me, I’m just kind of thrown into it!
I know the basic storyline, but not how it is being set up, so there is a lot of spontaneity. I kinda like that, because there is an element of mystery about it!
Shab, you’ve had a tremendous journey, involving a lot of hard work. I have to ask you about that moment, when you realised you were setting off, when the journey started?
Oh yes, it brings tears to my eyes, because, obviously, this has been my dream and actually, when things started moving I had to kinda tell God I wasn’t ready at that time. I’m not doing this for fame or money – I mean, those are great - but my journey is more spiritual and I wanted to spread some of the positivity that is within me.
Let's go back then Shab, because it's clear from watching your videos, that you're a natural performer. Was that something you did from an early age, or something you just decided to learn?
Well, I come from a very large family – there are eighteen of us! My dad had five kids, before he met my mum. So I have five half brothers and sisters, and then he had thirteen kids with my mom!
Saying that, I was the baby of the family, I was always the centre of attention and was really spoiled. Whatever I did, seemed to make my brothers and sisters laugh, and I loved that. I was actually quite reserved, but was also very funny. I was very close to my mother, because my father died when I was six months old, so my mom was my everything. Of course I felt the emptiness of my father not being there, but I had so much love from my brothers and sisters, and was just very funny, goofing around… imitating something I saw on TV, or dancing for them.
My performing talent only really blossomed fully later in life and I feel like God gave me my talents one at a time.
I got such a lovely mental picture from that description Shab.
You’re originally from Iran?
Yes, I always call it ‘The Old Country’, because my country now is America. I refer to myself as ‘Persian American”, because the most important period of my life, shaping as an adult, was growing up here in America. Looking back to my early childhood, yes, it was very hard. You can see footage of bombs falling etc, but the reality is, you literally have to find a hiding space and hide.
We would hear the bombs whistling down, our hearts in our stomachs, crying together underneath slabs of concrete and cables. Hearing the planes overhead, not knowing if you'd get home, if you'd see your family again.
My father was already dead by then, I was in the second grade at school, during the first Iran/Iraq war.
It was an incredibly frightening time, I still cry when I relive those moments.
It's difficult to follow that Shab. I suppose the only way is to come back to creativity, art, music.
I write a little poetry, and whenever I write about something close to my heart, the emotion I feel, I hope carries through the poem? Does that make sense? Your experiences and how they've affected you, must reflect in your lyric and song writing?
Absolutely! My music is so healing to me. I don’t want to save the world, but I want so much to spread some positivity and send out good vibes through my music and dance. I really think the world needs more positive inspiration because everything is just so, heavy at the moment. I have a strong connection to God and sometimes when it all gets too much, I throw my hands up and just say ‘Well hey, what do you want me to do now?’ Then I am able to use that divine strength to move forward.
You're clearly a very spiritual person, with a definite faith in a God. I admire and respect you for that.
When I think of spirituality, I just feel there is a greater power. I believe that the power of prayer is so strong – it's surely the most powerful manifestation method. We are creators, right? So when we are praying for something, like healing someone, and we ask, ‘Please God’, or ‘Please Universe’, we are connecting with that greater force energy, whether it is Buddha, Jesus Christ, Allah or whatever.
Shab, getting back to the music – you’re working with Damon Sharpe, who's known for his work with Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande. Do you feel you work well together? It must be difficult handing over a creative project to a producer, trusting them to interpret your vision? in a way that enhances it?
I totally understand that, and Damon and I are very lucky to find ourselves working together. He really ‘gets’ my writing style and my energy. We now write 90% of our music together. He understands instinctively what I am trying to express. For instance, If I say to him ‘I want a sound like this, it’s so pretty etc’, or send him a lyric idea or melody, he’s like, ‘Wow, Shab, that’s great’, then he’ll go to work on expanding that idea and come back to me with something magical to the point where I’m thinking “How did you know exactly what I was looking for?!!’
So many incredible writing partnerships have worked like that, including one of my fav's Elton John. The connection between him and Bernie Taupin was incredible...
Yes! I saw the movie Rocket Man – he is such an inspirational man and his music is incredible, really amazing.
Living in America, especially in Texas, must be crazy at the moment, with the election looming?
Yes, Dallas is my home right now and I actually love it even though the energy is a little bit ‘edgy’ and people are anxious for the future.
I think this is a really important time to remember to be kind to each other because you never know what the other person is going through.
I do spend a lot of time in LA for my work and I am hopefully coming to London soon. We had many interviews in London scheduled this year that have had to be postponed due to the current pandemic, but God-willing we will do them next year and the album is being dropped sometime in January, so, hopefully I will come to London then and we can meet then to chat about that.
Are you comfortable performing live? Is it something you have had much experience of? Or are you nervous about that?
I would just LOVE to perform my new material live. It was all being planned for, the Covid happened! So… I am using this time to prepare and have been seeing a really great voice coach, Analisa who has worked with Patti Labell amongst others. She is really phenominal and we have been working on my voice and getting it even stronger so I am able to perform longer and do more with it.
Performing live is definitely one of my dreams and I would love to perform on a late night show or open for someone. That is something I have been thinking and dreaming about a lot and working on manifesting.
I think you’ll be great – I can’t wait to see you on stage!
Thank you! I just cannot wait for you to see the next two videos that are supporting the album along with ‘Spell on Me’. The album has eight songs, tying in with the infinity symbol, because music is love and music has no end and no beginning, it is infinite.
Music is one of the purest forms of art.
Yeah, it’s so healing. Right?
Absolutely.
So, Shab, you’re also a mother of two children… do they get on, or do they fight a lot?
I have a little boy called Rafael (Rafi for short), after the tennis player! He has long blonde hair and green eyes; and a little girl called Shiloh. They are very alike and look like twins, even though they are different ages. My babies are the joy in my life – they are my angels. When I became a mom - that was when I really knew what true love is.
They are also my biggest fans and whenever they see my videos they clap their hands and dance and ask to see it ten times over! So I know when it’s good because kids are like, the harshest critics you can get!
Did you have any heroes, growing up? You mentioned your mum, but what about music, film, anything that has inspired you?
Absolutely, yes! I loved Michael Jackson! I mean, wow! Also, I watched Footloose, the movie which inspired me to dance….there were so many things… Googoosh, a Persian singer, was a great influence on me. I also loved watching breakdancing… the movie Flashdance, oh my God, that movie! I knew all the songs and all the moves from that movie, and The Count of Monte Cristo – what a story…so inspirational!
Don't start me on 'The Count of Monte Cristo'! Love it!
Any other creative talents? A hidden novel, or a painting that one day will be declared a masterpiece!?
At the moment everything in my life is moving so fast, I’m just getting into my dance, yoga, Pilates, more things to do with movement. When I was in high school I did a lot of painting, it's something I'd like to return to, when things slow down again. Right now I'm in this place, where I have to just keep moving.
You're concentrating on the album?
Yes. It was supposed to come out this summer but because of Covid was held back. There is a new single due out soon called ‘What I Do’ which is very close to my heart because it is about stuff that I was going through in my life. It also relates to the current pandemic situation as it is kind of about letting the angels back in through all the stress.
My videos for the two singles are directed by a guy called Eli Sokhn. He is a very special guy – he sees me and is able to bring that inner light out of me onscreen.
He’s so passionate and energetic it was fantastic to work with him.
Shab, I have to say It's been really lovely talking to you. I felt your lovely energy, and look forward to seeing, watching hearing more new videos, and live in London!? Big best pp xx
Thank you for taking the time to chat to me!
Yes, Dallas is my home right now and I actually love it even though the energy is a little bit ‘edgy’ and people are anxious for the future.
I think this is a really important time to remember to be kind to each other because you never know what the other person is going through.
I do spend a lot of time in LA for my work and I am hopefully coming to London soon. We had many interviews in London scheduled this year that have had to be postponed due to the current pandemic, but God-willing we will do them next year and the album is being dropped sometime in January, so, hopefully I will come to London then and we can meet then to chat about that.
Are you comfortable performing live? Is it something you have had much experience of? Or are you nervous about that?
I would just LOVE to perform my new material live. It was all being planned for, the Covid happened! So… I am using this time to prepare and have been seeing a really great voice coach, Analisa who has worked with Patti Labell amongst others. She is really phenominal and we have been working on my voice and getting it even stronger so I am able to perform longer and do more with it.
Performing live is definitely one of my dreams and I would love to perform on a late night show or open for someone. That is something I have been thinking and dreaming about a lot and working on manifesting.
I think you’ll be great – I can’t wait to see you on stage!
Thank you! I just cannot wait for you to see the next two videos that are supporting the album along with ‘Spell on Me’. The album has eight songs, tying in with the infinity symbol, because music is love and music has no end and no beginning, it is infinite.
Music is one of the purest forms of art.
Yeah, it’s so healing. Right?
Absolutely.
So, Shab, you’re also a mother of two children… do they get on, or do they fight a lot?
I have a little boy called Rafael (Rafi for short), after the tennis player! He has long blonde hair and green eyes; and a little girl called Shiloh. They are very alike and look like twins, even though they are different ages. My babies are the joy in my life – they are my angels. When I became a mom - that was when I really knew what true love is.
They are also my biggest fans and whenever they see my videos they clap their hands and dance and ask to see it ten times over! So I know when it’s good because kids are like, the harshest critics you can get!
Did you have any heroes, growing up? You mentioned your mum, but what about music, film, anything that has inspired you?
Absolutely, yes! I loved Michael Jackson! I mean, wow! Also, I watched Footloose, the movie which inspired me to dance….there were so many things… Googoosh, a Persian singer, was a great influence on me. I also loved watching breakdancing… the movie Flashdance, oh my God, that movie! I knew all the songs and all the moves from that movie, and The Count of Monte Cristo – what a story…so inspirational!
Don't start me on 'The Count of Monte Cristo'! Love it!
Any other creative talents? A hidden novel, or a painting that one day will be declared a masterpiece!?
At the moment everything in my life is moving so fast, I’m just getting into my dance, yoga, Pilates, more things to do with movement. When I was in high school I did a lot of painting, it's something I'd like to return to, when things slow down again. Right now I'm in this place, where I have to just keep moving.
You're concentrating on the album?
Yes. It was supposed to come out this summer but because of Covid was held back. There is a new single due out soon called ‘What I Do’ which is very close to my heart because it is about stuff that I was going through in my life. It also relates to the current pandemic situation as it is kind of about letting the angels back in through all the stress.
My videos for the two singles are directed by a guy called Eli Sokhn. He is a very special guy – he sees me and is able to bring that inner light out of me onscreen.
He’s so passionate and energetic it was fantastic to work with him.
Shab, I have to say It's been really lovely talking to you. I felt your lovely energy, and look forward to seeing, watching hearing more new videos, and live in London!? Big best pp xx
Thank you for taking the time to chat to me!
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