Singer-songwriter Jana Diab re-released her debut EP, Season One, on November 8, 2024. The EP extended version of the EP consists of an eight-song tracklist, which includes her singles “I’ll Just Say It,” “So Stupid,” and “Escape Plan.”
What do you hope people take from listening to this EP?
Jana: Thank you for asking. I hope that when people listen to this EP, they feel understood and maybe understand me a bit better too. This project was a turning point for me—it helped me embrace myself more fully. Before, I was even a bit uncomfortable with dancing to my own music or speaking openly about certain topics. Creating this EP helped me start a journey toward accepting myself, and I hope it inspires others to feel that same freedom with themselves.
How has your experience with ADHD fueled both the content and structure of your songwriting?
Jana: Having ADHD as a songwriter is honestly interesting! Haha. Some people write constantly, but I’ll go months without a single song, and then suddenly write some of my favorite 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 could not eat or drink water for hours. I get stuck in that trans. We get the songs done quickly when I’m in the right headspace. But yeah, there are times I feel completely blocked and have to just trust that inspiration will come back in its own time.
In what ways does the city of Cairo inspire your work? Do any other cities have an influence on your music?
Jana: 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.
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?
Jana: It’s funny, because in the first week that Couros 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, who is my boyfriend (hehe), 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!
I love the creativity in your EP title, “Season One.” If your life was a TV show, what would you call this year’s season or episode? Are you entering a new season in life right now, or finishing an old one?
Jana: I love this question! 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 travelling 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.
Your music is described as genre-bending. What genres have influenced your sound when working on this EP, and how do you envision your sound evolving in the future?
Jana: I’ve drawn inspiration from a wide range of artists like Anderson Paak, Gregory Alan Isakov, Novo Amor, and Missy Elliott. I don’t usually dive into full albums but will 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.
I really enjoyed “SO STUPID.” Can you take me through the writing process behind that song?
Jana: I’m so glad you enjoyed “So Stupid.” The song actually started with my boyfriend, Orlando Giannini, who’s an incredible songwriter and artist. He wrote the melody for the chorus while he was doing an internship in Venice and I was visiting him. When he shared it with me I immediately fell in love with it. Later, I was back in London, working with Couros, and he played this guitar loop that was in the same key as Orlando’s melody—it just clicked. We ended up building the whole song around that.
The “Season One” music video feels very intimate. What was the intention behind shooting scenes on the water with the lamp?
Jana: My goal was to show Cairo/Egypt authentically, not as a tourist spot but as it really is. Tessa Tinglof, who creative directed the video, and I wanted to keep it real and make sure I wasn’t just playing a character on screen. I wanted to just be me. The director, Kid Apollo, came up with the idea of the lamp—they’d used it in a previous project, and I loved the shot so much that we recreated it here.
We loved “Escape Plan” and were curious about your favorite places to escape to. Whether real places, fictional worlds, or songs, where are your best escape routes?
Jana: I’m so glad you enjoyed “Escape Plan.” 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 favorite escapes.
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?
Jana: 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.
Who was your biggest musical inspiration for this EP?
Jana: Gregory Alan Isakov and Anderson .Paak were massive influences. 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.
What was the last song written for the EP, and how did the track order come together?
Jana: Love this question. 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.
How has your family’s involvement in the music industry impacted your work? Do they play a role in your production process?
Jana: 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 [Laughs].
Listening to "I’ll Just Say It," I noticed the heavier electronic beats in contrast to the dreamy lyrics. What inspired you to use varied, chaotic instrumentals on this track?
Jana: 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 experienced. To be fair though, Couros could probably give a more technical answer on this! Couros’ answer: Well 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. -Couros Sheibani
What’s your dream or iconic venue to play in the future, and why?
Jana: 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.
What’s your biggest career goal, and what’s the next one you want to cross off your list?
Jana: 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.
Your songs touch on personal topics. How does it feel to express those emotions through music? Is it hard to revisit certain experiences?
Jana: Expressing my emotions in music feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders. When I’m going through something similar, I listen to my own songs and feel understood all over again. Having this outlet makes me feel fortunate because it gives a purpose to those difficult moments.
Do you feel your music reflects who you are, or does it let you explore parts of yourself you wouldn’t usually show?
Jana: 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.
Have there been times when creating or performing music helped you heal from a difficult experience?
Jana: Yes, absolutely. I made mistakes in the past that I felt a lot of shame around. There’s actually one song I wrote, which I haven’t released, that explores some of those feelings. Writing it was tough—it was the first time I articulated that part of my journey. But getting it out on paper felt therapeutic, even if it was hard to revisit.
Listen to Season One HERE