Aishah Al Banawi: Remember the Name!

By Abdulaziz Salah

Aishah Al Banawi recently hit the screens through Arabs Got Talent and completely left us wowed! We were given the pleasure to learn more about her.

Tell us about you musical dream and what led you to choose Arabs Got Talent.

Someone once told me, “In the eyes of the public, your success will seem like it happened over night. However, only you know how many years you put into your dreams, and how hard you’ve worked”. I have been chasing these musical waves for a very long time. I have been part of a rock band, played shows in the LA music scene, and signed an indie label. I have been nurturing this dream, taking care of it, and now I’m letting it fly. This constant journey has shaped who I am today.

Being featured on Arabs Got Talent has been on my list for quite some time, and I am beyond thrilled to be representing Saudi Arabia.

What experiences led you to dive into music?

I was four when my mother took me to an audition for the role of “Trouble” in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. It was my first onstage experience alongside some of the world’s most incredible opera singers. A Russian opera singer, Galina Gorchakova, played my mother on stage. I still get the chills when I think about her voice; how she sang her vibrato with such poignant vocal ability that it left the entire audience in awe. This moment was my first epiphany. I began observing and developing an ear for different musical genre, and it felt like I could see music in real life. I remember watching Fantasia by Disney, and how every visual movement paralleled a certain sound. Without music, life is rigid and dull. It’s not so much as how I got into it, but more how it found me.

Tell us more about your personal life.

I enjoy prayer, meditation, connecting to nature, and clean eating. People initially see me as playfully energetic and outspoken, however, I am an introvert at heart. Malibu is one of my favorite places to nurture spiritual practices.

I am a student at Columbia University in New York City. It is a nice balance from stage to classroom.

What kind of music are you working on currently?  

I am working on some new musical material, and writing a lot about my days in Jeddah, which taught me a lot about myself. I can’t seem to put down my pen when I remember all of the incredible times I had in my beloved city; the roads, driving in those bright city streets, having tea and prayer with family, discussing deep profound ideas about life with awesome people.

What message do you plan to get across as a musician?

I just want people to feel alive and happy. And I want them to love themselves, because I have a lot of love for them.

Where do you plan to take your music?

Presently, I am thrilled to be participating on Arabs Got Talent. I visualize myself studying at school while recording and performing. When I study well, I perform better, and when I sing my heart out I study better. And if a record deal presents itself along the way, I am up for the challenge.

What are your thoughts on the music scene in Jeddah?

When I lived in Jeddah, there was a lot of underground music going on which has now started to emerge more into the open. I am so excited that this music scene is evolving and expanding. It’s an opportunity for us musicians to get together and connect in a beautiful way.

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