Finding Sanctuary with PERSIA
Meet the self-described "shapeshifter", shaping Perth's music scene one single at a time.
Perth music artist PERSIA reflects on belonging, creativity, and learning to trust her evolving sound.
If you’re familiar with PERSIA’s sound, you may find it hard to believe the talented Boorloo-based artist credits Disney musicals for the start of her singing journey (then again, many of us probably share the same origin story… just without the music career at the end).
From performing solos at school to now performing on stages across WA, it’s clear that music for PERSIA has never been about going down one path or fitting neatly into one box.
Now fresh off a Triple J debut and West Australian Music (WAM) nomination, we start our conversation by asking PERSIA to take us right back to the very beginning.
[POP]: How did you first discover music was something you wanted to explore?
PERSIA: I always loved to sing as a kid, and growing up watching Disney musicals and TV shows, I wanted to do what they were doing! So I knew I wanted to do something expressive and fun, whether that be acting or singing.
As I grew older I became more involved in my school arts program, often performing solos, and I received a lot of encouragement and praise from the people around me - and as a Leo this felt really good LOL. I loved the feeling I got after performing on stage.
As I grew up, I felt like singing and music was my strongest asset and what I was most passionate about, so I knew that’s what I wanted to pursue into my adulthood.
It seems that her consistent openness to transform as an artist is the very thing that defines PERSIA’s sound. Which then poses the question: how did she find her sound?
[POP]: Did this style of music come organically to you as an artist from the start or was it more unexpected and something you discovered along the way?
PERSIA: It’s definitely been a journey!
Right now I’m loving R&B/soul and all the nuances that exist under that umbrella, but I haven’t always been a soul artist. It’s taken me a while to get to where I am right now, and even then I don’t really know what that place is. I feel like my sound is constantly evolving - I like to think of myself as somewhat of a shapeshifter. There’s just so many different styles and genres and specific sounds I love, it’s very hard for me to stick to one thing.
I have so many different influences that I’ve accumulated from my teen years, to uni days, to present, that have lead me to where I am. These artists include The Beatles, Ariana Grande, SZA, Cleo Sol, Raveena, Bruno Mars, Tori Kelly, FLO, Michael Jackson, H.E.R, Snoh Aalegra, Brandy, YEBBA… I mean, as you can see there’s quite the mixed bag, but they’ve all played an important role in informing the choices I make as a songwriter and vocalist.
Studying at WAAPA and exploring different genres definitely helped me realise I connect most with R&B/soul and that’s the style of music I most love to sing and listen to.
PERSIA’s latest single, Sanctuary Stay, explores growing up feeling out of place and embarking on the search for somewhere you truly belong. A concept many people, especially those from an isolated city like ours, know all too well.
The track also marked a turning point in her creative process, taking PERSIA’s usual solo songwriting session outside of her bedroom and into the depths of collaboration with then-stranger-now-friend and producer Conor Lawson. While she admits the experience of working with someone she had only just met was “scary but exciting,” she loves creating music with fresh people and perspectives.
PERSIA: I wouldn’t say it was a specific event that inspired Sanctuary Stay, but more so my general experience living in Perth and spending majority of my childhood in Mandurah, which is where I grew up.
As a kid I struggled to fit in, I felt like an alien most of the time. The odd one out. I didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me, let alone musicians. And still to this day I do often feel this way - struggling to see myself being represented, whether that be on a gig lineup, on the TV, or even at my local shopping centre.
I started writing this song last year around October, and just a few months prior to that, I was in London enjoying a Euro summer, and I was doing a lot of reflecting on my time there, realising that I never felt like an outsider while I was there. London, like most big cities, is so multi-cultural and diverse, and I really felt like I belonged when I was there. I saw myself in other people, everyday. And in the music scene too.
So that experience and those emotions were definitely heavy on my mind and I knew I wanted to speak on it and share that through my music, and I guess that’s what I aimed to do through Sanctuary Stay.
[POP]: So, what have you got in store for us next?
PERSIA: I definitely am planning to release more music. I have spent a lot of this year in the studio, writing lots more music that may contribute to a body of work later down the line. But for now, I’m just enjoying playing around with different things and figuring out what I like, and focusing on releasing singles to see what works best. So yes, hopefully some new singles this year (keep eyes peeled for a potential announcement soon).
Outside of new releases, I’m just excited to keep on developing my artistry and perform more gigs (I’ve already gotten to do a lot of cool ones this year like RTRFM In The Pines Festival and the upcoming WAM Song of the Year Awards). A goal of mine would also be to support more touring artists - I was lucky enough to support RISSA on her Perth stop in March and I’d love to do more of that!
Whether she’s experimenting with new sounds, collaborating with new people, or simply allowing herself the freedom to evolve, PERSIA continues to prove that some of the most exciting artists are the ones who refuse to stay still.
A massive thank you to PERSIA for taking the time to speak with us at Part of Perth.
