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Jehan Assria describes herself as “a visionary on a mission,” and that’s exactly the truth she’s living. The singer-songwriter prides herself in creating music to empower young women and listeners all around the world, whether she’s songwriting herself or scouting talent to join in on the creative process. 

Which leads us to her newest pop project titled “Machine.” During her quest for a dope pop vocalist to feature on the track, it was only right she enlisted Joey Diggs JR to bring her vision to life. Think of a cross between Michael Jackson and The Weeknd, and there you’ll have the inspiration behind this record.

While most artists may feature their own vocals on their tracks, Jehan Assria breaks the mold. Her approach to her artistry is different from the norm, and she continues to use her platform to give other creatives a moment to shine. “Machine” is dedicated to her late father, who played a pivotal role in raising Jehan.

Sheen spoke with Jehan about her roots, the new release, and more!

Where are you from originally? how does that play into your life and career?

I was born in Murrieta, California, and from a family of 11. I’m blessed to be surrounded by a strong support group, however, being a woman in a Muslim household had some challenges. With that, I was expected to follow certain traditions that wouldn’t allow me to express my individuality. There were many obstacles to overcome, and I know there will be many more in this journey. Staying dedicated to music and earning a degree in Business shaped me as a stronger individual and helped me develop that confidence needed to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Biggest influences coming up?

To start, my mentors Synematik and Lars Halvor Jensen. They took me under their wing and

dedicated their time to help me master my craft in songwriting. Also: Michael Jackson, Kanye West, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Jason Derulo, and the filmmaker James Cameron.

At what point did you realize this music thing was forreal?

I’ve always known I had a gift in music and storytelling, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I knew it was time to go all in. 10 years later and I’m still dedicated and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

You just released “Machine,” who or what inspired this record?

It all started with a vision of me moving my fingers for a scientist like I was some experiment. My gut was telling me to explore that even more and that’s when I wrote Machine. When writing the song, I was envisioning the music video and had to put the emotions of what I was seeing into the song. Every part of the song goes with every frame of the video. The concept of the song is about standing up for someone who is misunderstood by others. I decided to go even deeper in the music video by shining light on discrimination (a scientist bringing a Machine to life only to see it rejected by society).

Why did you choose to use someone else’s vocals on the track?

As a creative, you must think about what is best for the song. I knew I needed someone with a Michael Jackson/Weeknd vibe. When the song was presented to other vocalists, it was rejected. One day, I heard vocals by Joey Diggs Jr. on Soundbetter and knew he was the one for the song. I wrote him right away. He brought Machine to its full potential with his powerful vocal delivery. I remember that feeling of discouragement with the rejection the song faced, but now I know everything happens for a reason. Joey was meant to be the vocalist for this song, and I couldn’t be happier with the end-result.

Why is it so important for you to support other talented musicians and creatives?

To me, connections are the most important thing in this industry. Machine wouldn’t be what it is today without the team involved: Synematik, Lars Halvor Jensen, Joey Diggs Jr., Stan Greene, Emerson Mancini, Erik Bergamini, Cami Storm, and the others who participated in the music video. It means the world to me that they believed in my vision and did their part to help bring it to life.

I know the video is dedicated to your late father. What would he say to you today?

The passing of my father has been the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. He is the reason I have that go-getter mentality. He showed me you can achieve anything by working hard and staying dedicated. My dad would be so proud of this project, I just wish he were here to see it.

What’s one thing you want fans to get away from the song/video?

Embrace that people are different and spread more love.

What can we expect next?

I’m currently working on some new ideas for my next project that I hope to release next year. I also plan on developing a company to help other creatives bring their visions to life.

Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?

I’m going to make a name for myself as an artist/visionary and pave the way for the future of music with these projects. I also hope to build credibility as a songwriter by getting some placements.