“The imperfect life of an impulsive 21/22-year-old” - Jana Diab explores her debut EP, ‘Season One’
The London-based singer-songwriter, Jana Diab has taken one step closer to super-stardom with the release of her debut EP, Season One via Interscope Records.
Released on September 20th, Jana’s latest project sees the 23-year-old blend textured, acoustic melodies with genre-bending experimentation, taking listeners on a pop-based journey through heartbreak, self-doubt and breaking out of comfort zones.
Shortly after its release, °1824 held a press conference with Jana to delve behind the scenes of the EP, and we’ve collated the very best of the conversation for our readers:
In your song Escape Plan, you sing: “The trouble with healing is that it takes time.” How much time did this EP take to make, and have any of the songs on it been brewing for a long time?
“It’s funny, because in the first week that Couros Sheibani and I started working together, we actually wrote four of the songs that ended up on the EP, including Season One, I’ll Just Say It, Escape Plan, and Honey. Then over the course of a year, we wrote more, creating songs like Out of Line, I Love You More, 9 Lives, and So Stupid. Orlando Giannini (my boyfriend) co-wrote Out of Line and So Stupid with me. That whole year was full of writing, and there are still more songs we made during that time that I’ll be releasing soon!”
Within the track, I’ll Just Say It, you combined heavier electronic beats with dreamy lyrics. What inspired you to use varied, chaotic instrumentals on this song?
“We wanted this song to represent the feelings of having ADHD. Pairing that heavy electronic percussion with the dreamy landscape helped capture the imbalance of emotions I experience. To be fair, though, Couros could probably give a more technical answer on this!”
Couros explained: “The song is about ADHD, and we really wanted to have people be listening to the song and feel like they were in the head of Jana and so the chaotic electronic elements were really part of that world building. The constant interruptions from everything to nothing and distractions everywhere, really happy with how this turned out.”
If your life was a TV show, what would you call this year’s season/episode, and are you entering a new season in life right now, or finishing an old one?
“This season would probably be called “The Imperfect Life of an Impulsive 21/22-year-old.” I’m 23 now, so I feel like I’m moving into a new phase. I grew a lot in the last year, especially with getting signed and traveling alone - it was all pretty outside my comfort zone. But I’ve learned so much from it, and now I’m pouring those lessons into my new music.”
Photo by Claryn Chong
How has your family’s involvement in the music industry impacted your work? Do they play a role in your production process?
“My dad being an artist and my mom being a huge part of his success has really shaped my perspective. They’ve both taught me to value authenticity over everything, and I’m so grateful for that. My dad’s been incredibly generous in sharing his experiences, but I also wanted to prove that I could build something on my own. My mom is very hands-on, especially with the music videos we filmed in Cairo. She runs a production company called Wonder Junkie, and she was heavily involved in making sure we represented our culture and people in the best possible way. She’s also in every one of my WhatsApp group chats with my team!”
What genres influenced your sound whilst working on this EP, and how do you envision your sound evolving in the future?
“I’ve drawn inspiration from a wide range of artists like Anderson .Paak, Gregory Alan Isakov, Novo Amor, and Missy Elliott. Anderson .Paak’s style - almost talking more than rapping - is something I really admire, and I tried incorporating that kind of rhythmic storytelling into some sections. Gregory Alan Isakov inspires a lot of my melodies and the feelings I hope my music can bring out in people.
I don’t usually dive into full albums but I’ll get obsessed with a single song and repeat it endlessly, picking up inspiration from a unique sound or vibe. Couros, who worked with me on this EP, introduced me to so much music that broadened my perspective. Even if I can’t always remember the artists by name, his influence really helped me expand my ideas while writing this project.”
We loved the song Escape Plan and were curious about your favourite places to escape to. Whether real places, fictional worlds, or songs, where are your best escape routes?
“I find peace in the UK countryside - I love being surrounded by nature because it’s so quiet, and I feel like I can really breathe there. Cooking is another escape for me; I often cook for friends, which lets me spend more time in the kitchen and gives me a sense of calm. And, of course, writing music and listening to Gregory Alan Isakov on long walks or by a fireplace are two of my favourite escapes.”
In what ways does the city of Cairo inspire your work?
“Cairo itself doesn’t directly shape my music, but the people, community, and kindness here do. There’s such warmth and generosity in the people I’ve met in Egypt - they give even when they have little, and I find that so beautiful. That sense of community and selflessness is something I carry with me and try to reflect in how I connect with my fans. I want to create a safe, welcoming space for everyone, the way people here have done for me.”
Do you feel your music reflects who you are, or does it let you explore parts of yourself you wouldn’t usually show?
“Music doesn’t necessarily define me, but it allows me to explore different parts of myself. It’s like it adds layers to my identity without shaping it entirely, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. It doesn’t change who I am, but it gives my identity a purpose and helps me express things I might not say otherwise.”
How has your experience with ADHD fuelled both the content and structure of your songwriting?
“Having ADHD as a songwriter is honestly interesting! Some people write constantly, but I’ll go months without a single song, and then suddenly write some of my favourite ones in a week. It’s unpredictable. I also get really overstimulated by sounds and life in general, so I need space to reset before I can create again. When inspiration finally hits, though, I can end up not eating or drinking water for hours - I get stuck in that trance. We get the songs done quickly when I’m in the right headspace, but there are times I feel completely blocked and have to just trust that inspiration will come back in its own time.”
With the world of Season One not yet finished, on November 8th, Jana released an extended version of the EP featuring four additional tracks: 9 Lives, I Love You More, Honey, and Out Of Line.
Do the songs in the extended EP feel like what you didn’t have the chance to say in the first tracks, or are they new stories within their own right?
“They’re definitely new stories, but the core issue behind them remains the same: a struggle with self-love. It might sound deep, but even with my more upbeat tracks, there’s this underlying insecurity I felt about myself. Songs like Escape Plan, I Love You More, 9 Lives and Out of Line all touch on self-doubt and low self-esteem in some way.”
What was the last song written for the EP, and how did the track order come together?
“The last track we wrote was 9 Lives. Couros and I usually write in his home studio, but for this one, we switched things up and went to a different studio. We’re both a bit superstitious, so there was this worry that we might lose our flow outside of his space. Luckily, we ended up writing 9 Lives that day, and it just clicked for the EP. Initially, I had my doubts, but after some tweaks, I now am obsessed with it.”
What do you hope people take from listening to this EP?
“I hope that when people listen to this EP, they feel understood and maybe understand me a bit better too because this project was a turning point for me - it helped me embrace myself more fully. Before, I was a bit uncomfortable with dancing to my own music or speaking openly about certain topics, but creating this EP helped me start a journey toward accepting myself, and I hope it inspires others to feel that same freedom with themselves, too.”
What’s your biggest career goal, and what’s the next one you want to cross off your list?
“My ultimate goal is to build foster care homes across the Arab world, starting in Egypt. I’d love to create spaces for foster kids where they can feel at home and access education and opportunities. Musically, my goal is to build a community where anyone can feel understood and accepted. It might sound a bit cliché, but that’s genuinely what I’m aiming for.”
What’s your dream or iconic venue to play in the future, and why?
“My dream venue is Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado. I love being surrounded by nature, so combining that with music would be incredible. Plus, I really appreciate how the audience sits above the stage there. It’s important to me that I don’t come across as superior; I want my audience to feel like they’re part of the experience, not just watching from below.”
Those hoping to hear Jana perform Season One live are in luck, since she’ll be at The George Tavern in London on December 3rd:
We certainly can’t wait to see Jana shine on the stage, and look forward to what’s coming next in her ascent to pop stardom.
To keep up-to-date with her work, you can follow Jana Diab on Instagram, and find all of her latest music on Spotify:
