Elyanna on Palestinian identity, Coldplay and manifestation

“When you express your identity, you shine all the time,” says Elyanna.

The 22-year-old Palestinian-Chilean singer already has millions of views on YouTube and a collaboration with Coldplay under her belt.

This year she is also embarking on her first European tour, telling BBC Newsbeat that she wants to spread her homeland’s message “through music and art”.

Elyanna was born in Nazareth, an Arab city in northern Israel.

Israeli Arabs are descended from Palestinians who became citizens of Israel when the state was founded in 1948, many of whom continue to identify strongly as Palestinian.

“As a young Palestinian artist, I feel like if I have a voice and a platform, I can talk about where I come from,” says Elyanna.

“And talk about the beautiful things at home that are so necessary.”

Elyanna and her family moved from Nazareth to California in 2017, but she still feels a strong connection to Palestine.

In April 2023, she made history at the Coachella festival, becoming the first person to sing a full set in Arabic at the California music festival.

Months later, on October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel.

Israel’s massive military offensive against the country is still ongoing.

Last year, Elyanna told fans that she was “praying” for Gaza and that she chose it postponed their tour last year in solidarity with the people affected by the Israeli military offensive.

One of her songs, Olive Branch, which she co-wrote with her brother and mother, contains a reference to the people of Palestine, and she says the song is dedicated to them.

“They’ve been through so much for so long,” she says.

Although some celebrities face criticism for not speaking out about events in the Middle East, Elyanna says that is not the case for her.

“I don’t feel like there’s any pressure because I’m very proud of where I come from, who I am and my identity,” she tells Newsbeat after a performance in Michigan last month.

“And I want other people my age, young people and artists in general, to be proud of where they come from.”

“I think that’s my mission as an artist. It gives me so much meaning.”

“I always believe that it is important to speak your mind and I believe that everyone should feel free to express their feelings.”

Elyanna sings in Arabic, with a review Her Woledto album states that she “plays with Arabic pop, R&B, EDM and jazz to express the nuances of love, loss and longing.”

And this year she teamed up with Coldplay along with Burna Boy, Little Simz and Tini their Glastonbury headlining set.

The Coldplay collaboration is a teenage dream come true for Elyanna, who is now heading towards 10 million monthly Spotify listeners.

“I saw her show when I was 15 with my siblings in San Diego, and I was so inspired for about a week.”

“And I remember telling my sister, ‘One day I feel like I’m going to perform with them’.”

“I can’t believe it’s true,” she says.

Working with the group was “the perfect inspiration and a perfect environment” for her as a young artist.

“They are legends and they are so sweet and humble in person which makes it even more perfect.”

“They represent beautiful things and I feel like they really inspired me,” she says.

Now that her tour is back on track, she says the delay has taught her to “be patient.”

“It’s a process, and you just have to learn to trust the process.”

And on stage, her goal is to “inspire people,” as she has done with artists like Amy Winehouse, Freddie Mercury and legendary Middle Eastern singer Fairuz.

“As a little girl, I always wanted to be inspired by artists, especially when they performed live,” she says.

“I feel like I need to give that to other people, inspire them and give them hope.”

“I have so many people who have really inspired me in their own way, and I want to do the same for other people.”

Elyanna says she loves performing in the UK and meeting other Arabs at her concerts.

“I feel like there are so many Arabs who want to introduce their culture to their friends,” she says.

“I’m always so surprised and inspired that they’re all here to listen to Arabic music,” she says.

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