INTERVIEW with Eliza Shaddad

Eliza Shaddad is a brand new up and coming artist who has already collaborated with the likes of Clean Bandit and supported Rudimental and Alt-J on tour. Her new EP "Waters" is out now and is well worth a listen. Below is my interview with Eliza Shaddad where we discussed Clean Bandit, covers and charity work.

Your EP “Waters” is out now. What can you tell us about that? 
ʻWatersʼ is composed of four songs which I wrote over the last year, four songs about love and loss and essentially being haunted by both. Itʼs a larger and more complex sound than most people will have heard out of me before, and whilst it has its start point in folk it progresses to an almost rockier sound in places on this EP. I recorded it in a converted barn at the end of a peninsula in Devon which the amazing producer Chris Bond, and it was released on Beatnik Creative Records
on the 16th of June.


The EP has received critical acclaim and promotion from iTunes. How did that feel? 
Itʼs been wonderful seeing some of the reactions to the music. Having kept the songs to myself for a long time it feels great to have them out in the world finally, and for the feedback to be good, and for platforms as large as iTunes to be promoting it...thatʼs the icing on the cake.


Recently you featured on Clean Banditʼs debut album “New Eyes”. How did you cross paths and what was it like working with them? 
I was busking a couple of years ago in Shoreditch and caught the ear of Jack Patterson who was cycling past. He came back and said hi, and the rest is history:) Right place right time basically; and itʼs been pretty mad being involved with them - writing Birch together (which appears on the album ʻNew Eyesʼ was an absolute pleasure, and filming the video for UK Shanty with Lily Cole was pretty crazy. Theyʼre hard working and a lot of fun to gig with:)


You also founded an organization called “Girls Girls Girls”. What can you tell us about that? 
My friend and fellow musician Samantha Lindo actually founded Girls Girls Girls after watching Beyonce and her killer all-female band at Glastonbury. I became involved shortly after, and we decided to create a little collective of female artists and work together to put on events to promote women within the creative industries, and to raise awareness, money and to stand in solidarity with females around the world who have been affected by Female Genital Cutting.  We work with London-based charity, Orchid Project, and we all come together at special arts nights to empower
each other as performers and support this important cause.


You recently did a darker acoustic cover of Kieszaʼs track “Hideaway”. What other tracks would you like to cover in the future? 
There are thousands of songs Iʼd love to cover, from Dolly Parton to Bob Dylan to Radiohead. My label-mate Turtle (Jon Cooper) and I are currently working on a series of three covers, of which Kieszaʼs ʻHideawayʼ is the first. I shanʼt ruin the surprise of the two that are coming - keep your eyes and ears open:)


Previously youʼve supported the likes of Rudimental and Alt-J on their tours. Who would 
you like to support you on your tours in the future? 
It was with Clean Bandit that I supported Rudimental and Alt-J, and both were incredible experiences. Alt-J in particular as it was at Shepherdʼs Bush Empire; one of my favourite London venues. In future, with my band Iʼd love to support artists such as The National, Daughter, Ben Howard.


What can we expect in the future from Eliza Shaddad?
More music, more gigs, a tour coming up at the end of the summer, and some more exciting collaborations along the way.


Lastly is there anything youʼd like to say to your fans and supporters? 
As always; THANK YOU!

[END]

A huge thanks to Eliza and best of luck! You can check out her single "Waters" as well as a cover of Kiesza's "Hideaway below!