Iranian-American singer-songwriter Rahill announces a deeply personal and nostalgic solo project ‘Sun Songs’ on Ninja Tune imprint Big Dada, her new label home in which she sits comfortably alongside labelmates Yaya Bey and LYZZA. ‘Sun Songs’ constitutes a natural progression of—and departure from—Rahills work with the seminal NYC psych-rock outfit, Habibi, which she co-founded in early twenty-teens. 

On ‘Sun Songs’ Rahill provides her own intimate take on a selection of treasured songs that remind her of childhood, serving as a map of some of Rahill’s most abiding influences, artists whose singular voices and visions have withstood the test of time. "These songs encompass this feeling of wonder and curiosity that connects me back to my childhood. We grow so incurious with age, I intentionally chose these songs because they evoke that honesty and playfulness that feels infinite, feels timeless, feels familiar” she comments.

The EP consists of lead single “Aht Uh Mi Hed”, originally by Shuggie Otis, alongside b-side “Haenim” by South Korean, Psych Folk artist Kim Jung Mi, in which Rahill’s cover translates the Korean lyrics into Farsi (previewed at the Iranian American designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh's SS23 show for New York Fashion Week). Also on the EP is “I Do Wonder” by American singer-songwriter Arthur Lee and lastly “Growing Pain” originally by Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist Yoko Ono.

“The artists of these songs are pioneers in creating worlds of their own music, worlds where people like myself have the pleasure of stepping into when listening to their records” Rahill comments. “I wish to create a similar world honouring these songs but through my own lens, the same lens that I made my album through. In recreating something that touches me so personally, I seek to inspire that same inner joy and connection by tapping into a place of vulnerability and honesty. Songs have the ability to free us from what troubles occupy our minds, I want the listener to undress those troubles through listening to these songs." 

The four-song EP not only demonstrates Rahill’s immense skill as a talented vocalist but also her impeccable music taste and curation. With an extensive background in DJing jazz, soul, folk, and international records, Rahill has spent lots of time working at record stores such as Academy Records in NYC which in fact influenced her connection with the songs on ‘Sun Songs’. Also working as a visual artist, she creates amazing drawings and paintings that have featured in galleries internationally. Rahill’s work as a visual artist has seen her venture into fashion, another one of her passions, collaborating with the likes of Marc Jacobs, Vans, Coach Runway, Stella McCartney, Topshop and Adidas in the past.

The announcement see’s Rahill join Big Dada, the Ninja Tune sub label which relaunched last year as a label run by Black, POC & Minority Ethnic people for Black, POC & Minority Ethnic artists. ‘Sun Songs’ EP is out 4th November, with more music coming soon. 

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