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Can you talk to us more about your latest single “When You Say My Name”?
With the single “When you say my name”, I really dug deep into what makes us human. As human beings, what sets us apart is our ability to dive into our minds and daydream/fantasize. I wanted to create a song that addresses desire and is sultry but not overtly sexualized. It’s that feeling you get when you are longing for someone and you let your imagination run wild.
How was the filming process and experience behind the video?
I knew from the start that lighting was going to be the most important component of the video. The video shows me caught between fantasy and reality. My director and I crafted every shot, with a particular eye on red and blue lighting. The blue is kind of like the angel on my shoulder, and the red is like the devil. The lighting casts me in multiple layers, and as the video progresses, more “ghosts” of me appear. It symbolizes that struggle between reality and fantasy. It all comes back to the single’s central theme: That feeling you get when you are longing for someone, and you let your imagination run wild.
The single comes off your new album Tired/Wired – what’s the story behind the title?
I wanted to explore a deeper side of humanity and what makes us all human and alike, and that comes down to struggle. The album name “Tired/Wired” is how I feel DAILY. And I know so many people who feel the same way. It’s like a constant battle with yourself and that nagging sensation.
I explore different aspects of depression and anxiety throughout the EP, as well as lust with the single. With the EP title Tired/Wired, the blue and red colors played into the idea of someone who is anxious and caught between emotions. The cover’s image showcases the tired and wired sides of me which is depicted by multiple images of me – one with open eyes and one with closed eyes. I’ve dealt with anxiety for a big portion of my life and there really isn’t a better way to describe that feeling than tired and Wired. I sing about struggles of a relationship in “Wait for me”. In “Take these Pills” I dove into the side of depression and how it consumes you and you almost try multiple times to call for help.
How was the recording and writing process?
We recorded everything in a bedroom in my house and spent so many hours playing with the direction.
The songwriting process was definitely different than any other EP. I wrote the base of the songs – melody and lyrics – but teamed up with my friend and producer Shohn (Young Optimist) to help co-produce the songs. It really allowed us to take the songs in a different direction then what I am used to. Typically I would write everything then team up with producers and audio engineers during recording to help finalize it and produce it, and we would bring musicians in to record supportive instrumenets like drums, guitars, etc. but having Shohn co-produce throughout this process helped take the songs to the next level. His technicality and vision helped shape each song into a fully fleshed , multi-layered electro pop track whereas I probably would have ended up with a bunch of ballads and a pop rock song on my own.
How does your upbringing influence your writing?
I grew up in a traditional household with very loving, conservative immigrant parents who worked so hard to provide the best life for us – but with that came high standards and expectations. I felt a lot of pressure to be something or someone that I wasn’t sure I wanted to be. I always felt I needed to be smarter, skinnier, prettier, girlier, etc. While my siblings excelled academically, I struggled to follow that path and was faced with so much uncertainty on what I wanted my college and career path to be. It produced a lot of anxiety and self-doubt and ultimately led to years of heavy writing and music creation. I always knew one thing for certain, I may not be the smartest kid in school but I sure was passionate and good at singing and songwriting. So, it became my outlet and helped shape my individuality.
What else is happening next in Rania Khoury’s world?
I’m currently working on the next music video with my director for the song “Take These Pills”. I believe for this EP , the visual assets are very important to bring each song to life. I also hope to make another music video after that for “Wait for me” as well.
You can watch the full video for “When You Say My Name” on YouTube here.
