Creative Space with Jennifer Logue

Shab's Resilient Journey: From Refugee to Global Pop Sensation

September 15, 2024 • Jennifer Logue

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In this special replay of Creative Space, we revisit another fan-favorite conversation, featuring international pop sensation SHAB. Born in Iran, SHAB's journey from refugee to global pop star is a testament to resilience, creativity, and determination.

In this episode, SHAB and I discuss:

  • Her powerful journey from Iran to the United States as a refugee
  • How she turned her love for music into a successful global career
  • The inspiration behind her empowering music videos and the message of self-expression and healing
  • Her songwriting process and how personal experiences shape her music
  • How music has helped her overcome personal trauma and inspire others

At the time of recording, Creative Space was still growing (no lighting, no makeup, a plain backdrop), but SHAB's story resonated so deeply that it became one of the most popular episodes of the podcast, inspiring listeners around the world.

Tune in for a moving conversation about overcoming challenges, the healing power of creativity, and the pursuit of dreams.

For more information on SHAB, visit: shabofficial.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: http://eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 — Introduction

3:00 — Shab’s early life growing up in Iran

6:00 — Shab’s music and empowering women to embrace their femininity

9:00 — How Shab used music to overcome trauma 

15:00 — Collaborating with Damon Sharpe

18:00 — Making Spell on Me: Shab’s first major music video

21:00 — Touring with Anastacia: 

24:00 — Balancing career and motherhood

27:00 — How creativity fuels happiness

30:00 — Shab’s thoughts on trusting in God’s timing 

33:00 — What’s next for Shab: Her upcoming albums Euphoric and One Suitcase 

36:00 — Collaborating with director Eli Sokan

39:00 — Advice for aspiring artists

43:00 — Conclusion


Jennifer Logue:

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Creative Space, a podcast where we explore, learn and grow in creativity together.

Jennifer Logue:

I'm your host, jennifer Logue, and as we gear up for Season 3, yes, season 3, which is launching on Sunday, october 20th, we're revisiting some of the most popular episodes from the last two seasons. Today's guest is someone whose journey continues to inspire Shab, an international pop star whose music transcends borders. When I first sat down with her, she was on tour with Anastasia and had just released her single Sexual, part of a series of hits that established her as a breakout star. Since then, shaab has continued to rise, recently collaborating with hip-hop legend Fat Joe on the track Voodoo, which broke into the Billboard charts and became one of the most shazammed songs on Apple Music. She's also just released her latest single, afterglow, further solidifying her place in the world of pop music.

Jennifer Logue:

Shab's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Iran, she fled to Germany at the age of eight and eventually arrived in the US as a refugee at 14. Despite facing immense challenges, shab turned her love for music into a powerful platform for empowerment and advocacy. In this episode, Shab and I discuss her journey from Iran to becoming a global pop star, the empowering message behind her music and the healing power of music, and how creativity has helped her overcome trauma. I hope you find Shab's story as inspiring as I did when we first recorded it. So, without further ado, here's my conversation with Shab.

Jennifer Logue:

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Creative Space, a podcast where we explore, learn and grow in creativity together. I'm your host, jennifer Logue, and today we have the pleasure of speaking with international pop star Shab. A product of three continents, she first gained attention in the Western Hemisphere during late 2020 as a breakout star of the global pandemic, with three consecutive number two hits on the British commercial pop charts. She is currently on tour with Anastasia and just released her latest single, sexual. Welcome to Creative Space, shab. It's an absolute honor to have you here, welcome to Creative Space Shab.

Shab:

It's an absolute honor to have you here, jennifer. It's so nice to be here. Thank you so much for having me. It is an absolute honor and where in the world are you calling from today? I am actually in. So we are in Antwerp, so we traveled to Baruch. So we are in Baruch right now and we're going to head to UK on a ferry and we're going to start our UK leg of the tour and we're so, so excited and I can hardly wait.

Jennifer Logue:

Oh my gosh, this is so exciting and you. Your story is absolutely incredible and there's so much there's so much to talk about, we may have to do a part two. There's just so much to talk about. You were born in Iran. I was born in Iran. Then you moved your family to Germany at eight. Then you moved to the United States as a refugee at 14. There's so much.

Shab:

Yes, I was one of the lucky ones that was able to escape and get out and start a new life. I mean, what I'm doing right now, it's just it's. It's like a dream come true and, honestly, if I did the video sexual, I would have probably been killed in Iran. I would. I mean it's the truth, because you can't. You can't do stuff like that there.

Jennifer Logue:

You know when I was watching the video, because you just released that a few days ago.

Shab:

Yes, we did. It's almost the restiest thing that I've done, but I wanted to kind of empower women in their feminine energy, because sometimes, you know, we all have that feminine and masculine energy as humans and I feel like, because it's like it's not the sex appeal or we're trying to sell sex, but it's like it's not the sex appeal, or we're trying to sell sex, but it's kind of like, hey, you know what? I recognize my feminine energy within me and I honor it and I honor others and I want to be able to tell you that you're worthy and you're beautiful, and it's not about just the physical but it's just being comfortable in your own skin. You know, to me that's like it was really important. So I thought about a video. I was like, you know, I want to do something that's going to be still classy but sexy and just to kind of like tell a woman her worth and her beauty. So that's why we did that video it is a stunning video and you're an amazing singer.

Jennifer Logue:

It and the way with your music it's. You know. A lot of it does tap into that theme of sexuality and everything, but it comes from a very empowered place.

Shab:

Correct, always, empowered Always.

Jennifer Logue:

And do you think that's that a big part of that is how you your background and coming from a place where you can really, because I think sometimes in the West, we take for granted our freedom.

Shab:

You know, it's not that you guys do, it's just what all you know and it's not your fault. But when you open your eyes to other cultures and know what they have been through through history and time, and it makes one recognize that and it makes you feel kind of, you know, feel sorry for those women that don't have their voices and rights, and it's just, look, I'm not just going to advocate for the women in Iran and I'm going to advocate for women all around the world, or even men or children that are not going to have their voice heard. Like what I want to do is I want to be that poster child for like, look, I made it, I did it, I know and I can believe that other people can get out of it. And my beloved Germany accepted me as a refugee and my beloved America accepted me as a refugee or an immigrant. So for the rest of my life I go to those countries and I'm just so grateful because at the end of my life I go to those countries and I'm just so grateful because, at the end of the day, we all want to be a good citizen of the world, we want to contribute, we want to, you know, we want to be a good example, we want to do something good for society. You know, we we're not just going to come as refugee, and just we want to add value, you know, and and you know I always talk about like changing lives, add value.

Shab:

And for me it was through music and I was just blessed enough that I was able to kind of kindle that in music and just bring those back, because I've always loved music and I just was like never too late to start really anything Right. So to me that was that was it, because music was always an escape for me into the unknown. It's, it's transcending, it's transformation, just transformational, you know. And um, it has helped me through so many different traumas and life changes going from a childhood to germany, not speaking the language, to turkey and living there for a year in ankara and going to germany and then, you know, being in germany for three years and then being in, you know, in America.

Shab:

America I've been the most. It's been 27 years. So I do consider America my country and I consider Iran my, my motherland. At the end of the day, it's my mother's country, but my country is America, because that's the most I have been shaped of my life to 27 years of my life. I have been there and you know so I've been very, very blessed and lucky to, to, to have been grown up there and to have shaped.

Jennifer Logue:

So, amidst all of this, when did you first discover your love for music?

Shab:

Well, honestly, like when I was like, probably like super young, we were like five, six, and I remember we would play music in our house, even though it was forbidden in Iran, Because after the revolution they changed everything Suddenly. You can show your hair and you can do this, and I was like, okay, but through music, we would just play music. We would clean the house Because inside the house we could do music. We would like clean the house because inside the house we could do whatever. We would watch Western movies and, you know, if we're cooking, we're playing music. If we're cleaning, we're playing music. If we're, you know, like having parties, we're playing music.

Shab:

It's always revolved around music so we would escape. You know, even if there was an Iran-Iraq war back in the day, you know we would just like hide inside the house and just be happy and be in a happy place and escape into that world. And that's what I remember and I was like, you know, I want to create my own one day. And that's what I started doing, working with Damon Sharp, who's, you know, produced for Ariana Grande and Jennifer Lopez and some very, very talented ladies, and I'm just so blessed and lucky to be amongst one of them and to be able to do what I love and to be able to escape that place where I can be in a place that's free and they welcome women and and equality and and love. And I'm just so blessed every day and I thank god that I am in this position that I hopefully I can touch so many lives and help so many people and spread the word.

Jennifer Logue:

Yes, you're already touching mine, so you're touching so many people's lives.

Shab:

You're in your mind. Thank you so much. I appreciate you so much.

Jennifer Logue:

So your family? Did you have a creative family? I think your brother also sings did you have a creative family?

Shab:

I think your brother also sings, correct? My brother's name is Shahab. It means um, a shooting star. In Farsi, shahab has like maybe 11, like I don't know, probably 10 or 11 albums out and he's always sang. But I was always shy and it was during, like um, you know, paris Hilton and, uh, you know, I'm trying to think all these different names like Britney Spears, when they were just pop stars and they were going out, paparazzis were after them and he's like no, I don't want this for you. So I always like singing but he sort of, you know, he told me not to do it because my family kind of discouraged me.

Shab:

And I did stay in college. I have a bachelor's in international studies and marketing. I do love marketing. I went to law school. I dropped out. I wanted to do international law for export, import, cause I love stuff like that as well, or helping people, try to help their businesses, you know, so we can bring, like goods into the different countries and like have beautiful pieces of stuff that you wouldn't regularly see in your own country, you know. But then I dropped out and I pursued skincare. I am an esthetician by trade. I studied for a year and I'm an esthetician by trade, so I studied skin. I love everything about the skin. I've worked in spas for on and off, like seven to eight years and we owned our own spa and I gave him probably over like two, two, three thousand facials in my life, which I love.

Shab:

I love like making people feel good, and I was always a healer at heart. I'm also a reiki master and I also have a yoga master.

Jennifer Logue:

I got my reiki cert just like two months ago For vacation, yeah.

Shab:

Congratulations. Thank you, I love it. It's the energy. Yes, it's so wonderful. Hey, you know what I always think like? You never know when you're going to use it. And I use it on my daughter when she has her stomach hurt. She's four years old, my little girl Shiloh, and so I put I heat up my hands and I just put it on top of her belly and then I kiss it and then she starts feeling better and I put meditation for her. It works. You know, when you do it with love I believe in the energy of the universe and you just kind of it's not yours energy, you're getting it from sort of like above and it's just a touch of your hand and then you give it to the person that's in need the most.

Jennifer Logue:

I'm not sure if you found this connection, but but between Reiki and music, I felt like there's a similar energy happening there.

Shab:

Correct. I 100% agree with you. There's something very special there. I agree with you.

Jennifer Logue:

So we talked about you growing up in Iran. How do you think that has shaped your relationship with creativity?

Shab:

you know, just going to like my mom. She just watching my mother like going through a lot. You know, she lost my dad when she was 39 and I was six months old and my mother would take something from nothing and make it into something beautiful. Our house was always like spotless. She would cook like the best food. You know. To be honest with you, like if I would choose my life again, I wouldn't change anything, nothing, I would just do it exactly the same way.

Shab:

But my creativity definitely has grown. I mean, again, western movies and my brothers and sisters like dancing, um, you know, with western music and there's just so many different aspects of it. I'm just so blessed to be having so many brothers and sisters that I was the baby of the family. I'm the 13th um, and so I was always babied, you know.

Shab:

So like I was like kind of in a sense worship I know it's crazy and I might say that but they just adored the heck out of me and I was like spoiled, like I grew up kind of spoiled in a with love, not always having a lot of money, though, okay, a different kind of spoiler which, when I was a certain age, I had to like come to terms with myself, and there's stuff that I wasn't sure that I liked about me in my twenties and I had to change that and I was like, okay, I don't like this, I want to change. I want to be different, you know, and I want to be more humble, I want to be more loving, I want to be more accepting Not that I wasn't or it was judgmental, it's just I want it to be better.

Jennifer Logue:

Yeah, and even today yeah-improvement.

Shab:

Yeah, I always call it the love story that never ends. I love that. You know, it's like the love story in my routine, myself and I that I'm just trying to figure out so I can spread more love in the world through, through the reflection that I give out to others. You see what I mean? Yes, out to others. You see what I mean? Yeah, so I work through my, my um, darkness and um, rekindle it and make my darkness into light, you know, and um, um.

Shab:

So, yeah, there's, there's a lot of that, you know, but everything really inspires me, like you're inspiring me right now. You know being no, it's so true, everybody that I come in contact with that just adds something and a value to my life and I learn and grow from each moment and every day and I'm just so grateful to this moment, right now, in time and space, to be speaking with you and to have breath in our body and to be here and and it's really the best time of our life we can, can be alive, you know, and there's some stuff happening in our world and I get it. But you know, one day at a time, and that's how we can do it, one day at a time we can change the planet and you never know. Things will just change magically, and I believe in the power of love.

Jennifer Logue:

The power of love can heal anything. You know that is the ultimate power and I have this thing that I tell myself when things get overwhelming just focus on the next three steps. What are the next three things you have to? Do and just focus on those you get done, those you take the next three.

Shab:

Yes, the breath is look, you're still alive. Your mind likes to trick you and take you to the past. That stuff that happened, you're like, but I was not good, and you're still alive. Your mind likes to trick you and take you to the past. That stuff that happened, you're like, but I was not good. And you're like no wait, I'm good now, you know. So the mind tricks us all the time, and so what we have to do is bring ourself back to the present. So the present is all we have, and it's like that's where we're growing, and in the breath. The breath is so important, even like right about, I'm about to go on stage, though people are like do you get nervous? I'm like no, I don't really get nervous, I get excited, yeah, just because my heart starts beating fast. But then I start breathing really deep breaths and then I'm fine and I just be like I got this and I go out and I just want to spread the love. You know, just give my crowd energy and love.

Jennifer Logue:

So yes, um, there's so much love in your music. Thank you. I have to ask where do you find who are your musical inspirations?

Shab:

My kids. Honestly, like whenever I write, I'm always jotting down on my phone. If I hear, maybe like a quote I wrote, I heard, or something from the Bible, a verse, I take it out and I turn into a lyric. You know, it's amazing how inspiration comes, like in every place, everywhere, every day, and so I jotted down and, um, I might, my kids might say something, or my neighbor might come over for a glass of wine, I don't know we're talking and I'm like, oh, I like that word. I'm gonna jot it down. So I already have like a big list for my third album of the things that I want to create. But most of my songs honestly came it was more about love and it was sexy love and feeling sexy as a woman and um, writing about my relationship, like really with my um, with my I'm not married officially, but my baby dad, who is my partner. We're engaged, we have a five-year-old.

Shab:

Congratulations, thank you. We have a five-year-old son named Raphael and a daughter named Shiloh. She's four, so we're together and so a lot of the stuff like I really wrote it was like about our love or something you know. So it's like I always have people like that inspire me and and if I want to sing, I'm always singing for my soul and my heart, and that's the only thing.

Shab:

If a song doesn't agree to me or I don't like it, I won't sing it, like I'm like, no, it's just, it's just not. People like, well, you're a singer, you can sing any song you want, I'm like, but it doesn't talk to me, I can't, you know. So for me it has to hit like really deep in with my soul. I'm like, ok, that I can sing this one I can do. And if I'm going to do it over and over again through concerts and through time, I better like these songs and I'm really spreading the word of love, and so I better like my own work before, like I'm out there and singing all this stuff. So it has to mean something to me that I'm trying to spread that word into for other people. You see what I mean exactly.

Jennifer Logue:

I feel like we're all vessels as artists. We're vessels for a message and it has to be, it has to ring true to us correct.

Shab:

This has to be authentic. You know you can't just be because, well, it's a hit and I'm gonna do it like if it doesn't agree with me, I won't do it like I'm not. I have to stay true to myself first.

Jennifer Logue:

So for sure, and that always produces the best results. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. So what is your definition of creativity? There's no right or wrong answer.

Shab:

That's a. That's a really good question, actually, jennifer. You know, I think creativity is something that you really enjoy, or even if you want to try something new. Like I love cooking and I was cooking a lot at one point and then I was like two babies in. I was like, oh my god, I'm trying to do my career, but like I only cook when I'm like really happy because I'm like trying to put some good energy into that food, and but creativity to me is, uh, whatever that makes you happy in that moment. You know, whether it's writing a music, or like working out or going for a run and seeing nature, um, you know, visiting a new place and traveling and speaking to someone new, that. Or making friends with someone, um, that is going to become lifetime friends with you. It's like watching a movie that touches you and then you might want to create something. Or even like remodeling your house. It's in everything. I think creativity is just so beautiful and I love creating because we're our creators.

Jennifer Logue:

Yes, yes, if we don't create, we're not, we're not happy. I, when I stopped creating, I'm not a happy person Like yes.

Shab:

I'm the same exact way, because what happens is when you're creating because we were meant to be creators it doesn't matter what you're doing, even if you're cooking, finding a new recipe, do that, you know and and and and like.

Shab:

Just keep creating something like new, like even if it's like finding a new album, like you're listening to, or or or, like, you know, going to a new restaurant with your friend. And the moment you're not creating, what happens is you fall into default and then you start, your mind drifts back into the past or or the present, and then the anxiety creeps in, because we meant to keep creating, and that's why I love writing music so much, because I write and I'm in a studio and then I hear the finishing touches and I'm like, and I get goosebumps and I'm like, oh, my god, this is so good, like, this is gonna be great. I can't wait to share this with the world and I can share my love with them, you know. So, yeah, we were meant to be creators. I love creativity is just the most beautiful thing in the human. Beside love, obviously, there's the pillar they all have pillars like a tree of life, and it goes up.

Jennifer Logue:

Yes, I love that answer. Oh my gosh, I love that answer. Um and this. This is kind of building off of that a little bit, but why do you think creativity is important? I feel like sometimes soul, right.

Shab:

What was that Feeds your soul Like it feeds it like, it makes you feel alive, Like, but what were you thinking? I want to. I want to know that too.

Jennifer Logue:

Yeah, I think sometimes in the world it may be seen as frivolous you know by some who are but, as you were saying, I just think it fulfills a fundamental need for our health and well-being, Correct?

Shab:

Even the ones that are just so frivolous, they're still creating, you know, even jotting down stuff in the computer, because we have realists too. Look, there's all kinds of people in the world. They're still creating. Yes, that's very true. You know, they might not want to be like, well, I'm not creative person. I am so black and white and straight, like this is this is how I do things, you know, but at the end of the day, there's part of them that's there, is their child, like you know there's. If you find that child within you, you will never grow old yes because if it's difficult, then it already becomes difficult.

Shab:

if you, if you make a task like hard well, I can never do this. This is too hard, or I'm not good enough for it You're already telling yourself that you're not. Don't do that.

Jennifer Logue:

You know that is so true, the children be in the moment and be childlike. Yeah, the child within us, I feel like, has all the answers child within us, I feel like, has all the answers. Yes, you know, a hundred percent. Oh, beautiful answers. So let's get back to music. When did you first write?

Shab:

what did you write your first song? That's a really. Actually you're asking all the good questions. So Damon Sharp and I I was when I just had my son. My son was probably like four months old and I was doing some Persian music and I had just released my first song. I did my video when he was six months and more music.

Shab:

But then I said, you know, I would really love to my my baby that, like Rob, that never understood what I was singing to him, and he's like, well, this sounds so beautiful, but I don't know what you're saying. I was like, oh man, I should probably start doing something in English too, cause I would love for him to know what I'm singing to him. So then I started looking at a computer one day. You know some, the nudge in you just says just go walk into the computer, type in producer or something. And I did that. I sort of got something in my mind speaking to me and I typed in and Damon Sharp came up. I had no idea that he's written for Ariana Grande and Jennifer Lopez and I just was like, okay, cool, this guy looks good. He looks like he's a family guy too and I was like I was all for that, great. So then next thing, you know my husband, you know Rob always checks everything and then, like later, he tells me do you know that he's written for Jen? I was like I had no idea. Wow, that's amazing, I'm written for Jen. I was like I had no idea. Wow, that's amazing. I'm like. I was like he's sending me a new song and the first two songs. The first song was called down to the wire, which is um, and, and then that was the first song he gave me. And then the second song was ain't thinking about you.

Shab:

So after those two songs, when I first recorded um down to the wire and I came back home, my husband didn't travel with me but I was pregnant with my daughter I was already seven months pregnant because he would go and do it and see what happens. And I came back and he loved it. He was like I didn't know you can sing. I was like, yeah, I can. I mean, like you know, I had a shy talent. But I was just like, ok, this is the time for it to come out and there's no more shy anymore. So then then I got in thinking about you. Then we did a contract for three songs and then the. Then I told him. I said, Damon, I had an idea about a song. I want to do something with a middle Eastern pop something with my let's do something fun.

Shab:

He said well, I love it, shab, yes, send me all your journaling, everything you have. So I did, and we called it.

Jennifer Logue:

Spell on Me. Oh my gosh, I love that song and the video is so cool too.

Shab:

Thank you, and that was my first major big video I did. I mean, you don't understand. I'm walking it, I'm redriving into the desert. There's 80 people there with tents and books at me. He's just what have you just got into a shaft? And I'm like, um, I don't know and I'm all I'm praying to God is to make sure this goes right. I'm like, dear Lord, please make, make sure I don't suck.

Jennifer Logue:

Oh my gosh, you're phenomenal.

Shab:

He did a week of rehearsals. I worked with Lady Gaga's choreographer, which is a choreographer His name is Richie Jackson. He's a beautiful, beautiful human, anyhow. So he was there and we did the video and it turned out to be so beautiful and I was just so proud of it and but I prayed so much and and of course, after that I was like I got this.

Shab:

I think I have a hang of how to write music. I can, I can do this, this. So from then on we've been writing all our songs. Beautiful single song I have written is with damon and and eric sannacola. It was just the three of us, the two boys, and my third album.

Shab:

I do have a lady name on nas tokyo. She works with closely with dwayne johnson's wife and he's written for um, for la Lauren, and she's going to start helping me and the fact of that is fun fact her husband is in the video of Serenity with me. Oh, that's very cool. Yeah, harry is awesome, harry Goodwin. And the funny thing is when I've met him on the set he's like hey, by the way, who writes your music? My wife is a really amazing writer. You need to meet her if you haven't yet. He was like kind of like you know, introduced. I was like that is the cutest thing ever and my husband, you know, rob, was on the set and I said, hey, why don't you go talk to Rob? He's sort of like my manager. I was like I'm already. She's sharing you with me on the beach today. You know, I would love to do something with her Creative connections. Yeah, we're super good friends and we she's going to help me with my third album and to have a woman on my third album.

Shab:

I I'm just so honored and so happy to be able to work with someone like Nas and I cannot wait to. I want to do more ballads, just slow, maybe things down, and just still like I want to. It's just more heartfelt, slower song. And and I cannot wait, I have, we have so many, so many things that we want to do and I want to call it one suitcase, because that's what I came to us. I literally was like Mary puppet with one little tiny suitcase and an umbrella. That's all. I came to the US. I literally was like Mary Puppet with one little tiny suitcase and an umbrella. That's all I came to. Yeah, and you were 14. I was 14. Yeah, I started high school, ninth grade, I went to ESOL, didn't speak any English, I was made fun of, I was bullied, but you know, I had really tough skin. I was like I've been through the bombs.

Jennifer Logue:

This is nothing what you got and did you come here by yourself? Which city did you? I went to?

Shab:

from Kassel I left and went to Frankfurt and from Frankfurt I went straight to Baltimore, where my mom was there, and I hadn't seen my mom in almost three and a half four years. Wow, my sister was my guardian was there, and I hadn't seen my mom in almost three and a half four years.

Shab:

Wow, my sister was my guardian in Germany. Oh, wow, okay. So yeah, I was a baby's mama. I was like my mom was like I was like I wouldn't go to sleep until she went to sleep. Like I was like her shadow. I was with her. So, it took, I grew up really fast. I was with her. So I, it took, I grew up really fast. You know the the four years between like eight and a half nine to like 14, I grew up really really fast. I had no choice.

Shab:

Yeah, survival I mean, yeah, but I, I'm a very independent person, even as when I was younger, like I went to my tennis lesson and know I went to school by myself, like they had the straws and bond, like the, you know the trains and stuff. So, but when I went to America, like you know, everything is needs a car. You don't have the transportation Europe. So I was a little saddened because, you know, no, everyone was working. We didn't have a lot of money necessarily, so we were trying to make ends meet and we were renting a house, all of us. So it was. It was tough times. It was tough times for a little while, but then things got really, really good you know, and you went to college and yeah.

Shab:

I paid for my way. My mom helped some scholarship grants, so that was really nice and and I worked, I worked, and and I was really proud of that and I loved working. I love working. I love contributing to society, I love adding value. I love doing something for the world. That I'm saying I'm doing my part, so I know at the end of the day, I know I did what I could do.

Jennifer Logue:

So, no matter what you're doing, no matter what project you're, doing so, no matter what you're doing, no matter what project you're doing, you always bring that energy. I hope so. And passion, that's beautiful.

Shab:

Thank you, I tell that to my whenever we get into an argument or something or he just gets mad at me. I'm like what? I'm a very passionate person, honey, yeah.

Jennifer Logue:

Yeah, so back to music, because there's so many great videos, so many great songs. I'd love to know more about your collaboration with Damon and Eric. Okay, what do you love most about?

Shab:

your collaboration together. They just um. What I do is when I write a story and I tell them what I'm trying to sing and who I'm trying to sing to like. For example, let's say, crisscross, yeah, crisscross about a. It's about a new love, but it's also about an old love, that's true it's. It's like being in a relationship for many years and you're rekindling that love through the fire of passion. And then it's also new love, which is like new, and you're just like unsure and they're both playing games and but it's not like unhealthy games, it's more like they're both protecting their hearts, but they're still open to like the unknown. So so helpless and new, like baby, don't hold back now, you know. So it's kind of like. So it's like rekindling that new love or having a new love in your life. So whenever I tell them the story before we write, they usually get it. They're really on with how my stories go.

Shab:

Even what I do, my song, what I do, what I do, came out of like a traumatic story, traumatic experience for me and what happened to me with my baby, dad and I. So, and then you know, look, we forgive and forget and we move on in life. But I feel like those are the times that actually made me stronger as a person, be able to really forgive him and myself on not knowing better and him making a mistake or whatever that was, you know, and just moving from that that I felt like I was becoming more enlightened, human, yes, and I felt empowering. Felt empowering, not like a being a victim mentality, which I had for a while, but like riding through that music that empowered me. And that's when what I do was born. Like every song, it had its like place or meaning, and even like music to my heart. It's for the people like are like my sunshine in my life and their music to my ear, music to my heart, you know so.

Shab:

And my kids' voices, when I first heard them say mom, you know, mommy, or even if they speak, you know. It's just those little precious things that, like, we might take for granted. But then we go back to it and we're just like, oh my God, those moments are never going to come back. So, guess what? I'm not? I'm going to live for the present moment. I'm going to enjoy every second. I'm going to slow down time because I'm not trying to get to where it is like, oh, you already made it and look, everyone in the world knows your name. I'm fine where I am right now and I feel so blessed and like speaking with you right now in this time and space and just doing what I'm doing, and I'm on tour with Anastasia and I've prayed about this for last year. So I would say God is real and prayers will get answered. You know, and I believe in the power of prayers, I believe in the universal love and I believe in the creator that's listening and he loves all of us so much.

Jennifer Logue:

We just have to speak to them, you know, and he you know, our creator is our ultimate collaborator and every single thing we create, every recording studio we're in, every they put me in touch with you.

Shab:

You know, and they maybe rang a bell oh, you need to have an interview shot. So you never know, like, how we meet people in life. And when someone comes in, whenever I have an interview, I know it's like super special because that's like a soul that got sent for me to speak to them and to tell them something that I need to get from them, they need to get from me, we need to get from each other.

Jennifer Logue:

You know it's yes, shab, you are the most grounded person I've ever met. Oh my gosh.

Shab:

Yes, it is so inspiring. Thank you, jessica, love you too.

Jennifer Logue:

You're so sweet. I just had coffee with a friend this week and we were talking about like life's lessons and what you know what's next for each of us, and she's like I think something. I think what the universe is calling you to do is to be content. Contentment is your challenge, because I'm always like jump in.

Shab:

Yeah, it's the next thing beautiful, no, and, and look, you know that that's what your drive is. You said their drive like. For me, it's like hitting my numbers when I work out. If I'm going like fast, I want to go super like, super fast, like, and I want to go faster than I did, I want to beat my number from before. So it's like we're in competition healthy competition with ourselves, but at the same time, feeling grounded and content and proud of ourselves. Yes, you know, and taking a moment to breathe that you know, breathing in, just say thank you for coming so far. And when I look back last year, this is my like, I mean, think about it when I'm thinking about it, this is my fourth show that I've ever done in my life.

Jennifer Logue:

Wow, yeah, so you know opening for.

Shab:

Anastasia, I know and and it's going so amazing and she's so awesome and her fans been so, so receptive and loving to me and it's just been. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and I just thank God, because God does not want us to fail. By the way, I look at it like some blessings and opportunities don't come right away, because I have something better for you, because I'm preparing you for something bigger. He does not want us to fail, so they want to like, for example, want us to be super ready where we like even riper than we think. When we get that gift, we're like we're going to hold on to it and we're going to like respect it, you know, and we're going to like make sure we get the most of it.

Jennifer Logue:

Trust in God's timing, exactly, yeah.

Shab:

That's why when something doesn't happen or work my way, you know what I just be like, oh, that's okay, and I just and I just I do something else and I'm like it's okay, and I don't get upset, I don't get sad, you know, and and and the inner child is like, oh, it's going to be fine. You got something. You know it is and it's it's okay, and I love all aspects of life and I'm just breathing it all in, you know, and I'm just staying super grateful and thankful. Those are the keys to unlocking more.

Shab:

But also manifesting is working hard, not just thinking about it. Get up there and do it. Like if you just think about playing the guitar, play it every day. Or if you want to sing, like, work on your vocal rest. You know, vocal, vocal, um. Do your vocal lessons and do the things you need to do. If you want to lose weight, then you know what, slowly. Don't just jump into it and like, go heavy where it's going to be hard. Do one thing at a time. Give up one thing, you know just give your body a break, give yourself love, give yourself respect, you know, and things just fall into place one day at a time.

Jennifer Logue:

They do. It's incredible. Especially, when did you start your musical journey? Has it been the last?

Shab:

actually I was in my mid-20s and I had a producer that I worked with and we started dating for a little while and didn't work out because I left him. So he took all my songs that I had written with him and he gave it to someone else and she sang and I heard it in the radio and I was heartbroken by it. So I stopped singing for many years after that incident. But you know what, after speaking to to rob and, and then he was just like what do you want to sing now? Where did this? Where did this talent all of a sudden came from. And then I told him the story and, uh, he was like well, just please, don't make this a hobby. He's like look, I'm gonna go all in, but I need you to go all in. Oh, and I got you. I got you back 100% and you need those wings. I will help you have those wings and you can spread them and you can fly. So, but it took a little convincing at first before we got to that point and once he knew this was it and he saw my hard work put in, he said, okay, let's go. So it was a, it was a step level. It was lots of days at the lake house where we would go for the afternoon and we would just go sunbathing. We didn't I was still pregnant, you know.

Shab:

I would talk to him about music or our baby was still small and I would be like I really want to do this. He's like well, this better not be a hobby. This better be like this, better be a career for you, because if you want to do this, this is like you're all in or nothing, like I want you to give a hundred percent. If I'm giving a hundred percent, I want you to do 110%. But when he saw my work ethics, he saw me done in, day in and day out, and like my vocal coaching. And it's just your. Your vocal vocals are just like working out, just like any other film.

Shab:

And it's, uh, my, my producer, damon. He's such an amazing human being, family man, he's a, he's a, he's like a, he's like a brother to me, you know so, like Rob and I, we, we just adore and love him so much. And he said shop, you know what I see in two years? That happened for you. Most artists do in 10 years, because I think I wanted it so badly that I just worked extra hard, and I always do. Sometimes I have to work extra hard on things because I'm not naturally adapt to it. But you know what? I work harder than anyone else and I finally get it and it's there. But I work really hard and most times, like some people naturally comes to them, some people work hard and for me I had to work hard to get there, and so even with my guitar lessons, like I have to work extra hard to get those chords.

Jennifer Logue:

And I realized you played guitar too. That's new to me, that's awesome.

Shab:

It's super new. I'm still like getting the gist of it. It's not something I would love to, maybe in the next couple years whatever two years, when I have my own world tour to do like a number, like a song for my fans on stage, you know, with the guitar, and that's that's my goal to do to. Everything I'm doing is for my fans. Like I left my babies at home, they're with my sister, thank god, and I facetime them every day. They're five and four, but you know what my fans are sort of like, my babies too, and I love them as much. So you know what we're building an army. We're building an army of hope and love.

Jennifer Logue:

Oh, beautiful.

Shab:

And that's what I want to do. And so you know what I will put this extra time, I will tour and I will spread this love and I will spread the love of God and spread the love of universe and universal love as one.

Jennifer Logue:

So, oh my gosh. So I have another collaboration to ask about. I noticed in a lot of your music videos which I love, absolutely love all of your music videos.

Shab:

I see the same director too, eli yes, eli, um, ellie, so it's like Eli, ellie, he goes by both. Okay, cool. Uh, ellie Sokan, um, he's from Beirut. He's from Beirut, um, he's like the most amazing person I have met in my life.

Shab:

When I first went on the set, I was so nervous and then he's like shut up, come on, you're ready to. I am so conservative and, like you know, I mean like I don't speak like and I was like, okay, I was like I like this guy. Yeah, I was like let's go do it. He made me feel so comfortable and he knows my angles, he knows what works for me. He just, he, just I always say I'm like, ellie, you make me look good. He's like, no, it's you. And I'm like, no, you make me look good. So we always go back and forth and he's just the most beautiful human being and he really, truly cares for me and love Like we.

Shab:

I would say we have grandfathered and adopted some part, some people from my team. I'm like, whenever I like somebody, I'm like you're staying with me forever. We have grandfathered you into this, like, whatever this is, wherever we're going, you know, but he's very talented and, um, he does all my most of my stuff. I mean. That doesn't mean that we're not going to work with someone else, but he's, he's sort of like my creative director, um, so he's going to be helping me with other videos on the future.

Shab:

If I choose, like, let's say, not to direct with him, but he's, he's, he's part of the team for life, he's, he's an amazing human being and he's going to probably help me with my world tours, because I want something very futuristic. So like, let's say, there's a hand coming out of the crowd and then there's a heart inside the and the heart opens. It says you're worthy, you're loved, you are important. You know, like we want to do something that's like not just a concert, but it's like it's um, it's, it's um, it's motivational, it's inspirational, transformational, and it's not just about the dancing and shaking the booty. You know like that's all great, you know it's fun, but I want them to walk away like I want everyone experience yes, exactly, I want them to all close their eyes.

Shab:

I want you to close your eyes and maybe I'll give contribute something to each state that we are touring. We go away like instruments or dance lessons or vocal lessons, because obviously people are coming to my, to the concert. They're loving music. They love music. Can I give back? And I've been thinking about that already and I'm like I'm already on how to give back and I haven't even look. I've made it in a sense, but not like where you know, when it happens, I know what I'm going to do, which is great, because these ideas come to my head and I jot it down.

Jennifer Logue:

I'm like I love your vision for where you want things to go and you know from my perspective, just from chatting with you for the last few minutes, like probably in two years, what most people like. As Damon said, what takes most people 10 takes you two. Like it's. I don't think it's too distant in the future. Thank, you.

Shab:

You know, I would say the universe, timing is the best, and, um, I'm just a vessel through it to connect one life at a time and, uh, to tell each story and to be able to, to do something beautiful for our world in my way. And you know, I have a really good life in Dallas. I don't, I don't need to work. You know, I'm a, I'm a kept woman in the sense you know what I'm saying Like, but I've always worked all my life and I honor that and I love that.

Shab:

And if I'm not doing anything, I would be super involved with a bunch of charities. I would never be sitting still, that's just not who I am. And the fact that I see I have to to grow two babies now and when I want to see the future for them and other children and I want to create something also for like, for like, for school like, maybe like a program that these kids can like, grow faster through it and then help them evolve. You know, and if I don't see something that I like in our world, that's okay, I don't complain about it. I might be sad or upset for a second, but I'm like you know what. I'm going to do something about it.

Jennifer Logue:

I'm going to start.

Shab:

Yes, if I want to see the world through my lens, then then, then then this is what my way of doing it. I'm going to get up and be the advocate for it and I'm going to work hard. I'm going to get out there, I'm going to travel the world, I'm going to change the world in my way. I'm not trying to save it, I just want to. I want to heal it and I want to change it through my perspective, through my lens. So with love and um and equality and just those are the most important thing and freedom for people. This is God's land. We all supposed to enjoy it.

Jennifer Logue:

It's not you know, that is a beautiful, beautiful sentiment and idea and I believe I'm fully on board with you in that, with all you've been through, it is so inspiring to see how you're just full filled with love and filled with this drive to heal and that drives your music and everything you create. It seems um.

Shab:

I just have to say I'm super inspired by you shop, but I'm inspired by you, believe me, you know, I I'm seeing a strong female like yourself and what you're doing as well, and you're out there and spreading positivity and and that's that's just such beautiful thing. And we're all here. I want all of us to win. There's room for all of us to win, you know, and we need, we need more voices to to speak up. Love and prosperity and abundance and and hope and and life and you know, and and healing, healing our planet and healing ourselves and our traumas, because our traumas are in the past. They, they don't belong to us. We just have to overcome them and and and find out what they are and what's causing it and what's the root of it, and just give it love. Give love to your child, like the person that's inside, that's that's seen those traumas.

Shab:

And for me, I had to do a lot of self healing because I wasn't sure why I was. Things were like triggering me and, um, I did very deep healing inside of my heart and there's times I would just seclude myself, I wouldn't go out, I would just stay. You know, if the kids are in school, I'm just meditating. I was just like trying to think what my next move is and I would ask God I would make them cry and, um, just be like God.

Shab:

It's not fair, like why so many people suffering in our world? I just feel sad sometimes for our planet and I start crying and and and then and then. Then I feel powerless. But then, once I cry and I feel like there's something just like comes, like the spirit like within me starts rising and I just feel like like tingling, you know, between my body and I get butterflies and I feel like God is like coming back and saying my child like you can be the change you want to see. It's within you and we're going to do it together one day at a time, and that's when the hope comes back for me. And you know I have done many days of that. And then now I'm sort of like I might get sad, but then I'm like no, you're going to be great, it's going to be fun Together. We are going to be stronger. You know we can overcome anything, but not with hate. I will never do anything with hate. I will like try my best and I always do everything with love.

Shab:

Even Mother Teresa. I never forget, I love this thing. She said one day they invited her like to say oh, is there anti-war rally. She said I'm not coming. They're like oh, you're the one that's always preaching about this. She says, sure, if you have a pro-peace rally, I'll preach what you want. You know, so it's.

Jennifer Logue:

I always believe in that well, I want to ask you officially what's next for you? I?

Shab:

I know we have the new album in the works, the third album and the works the third album and the second one is coming out, hopefully in spring, so the second one is done. Okay, cool, there's a few songs on that one as well.

Jennifer Logue:

Do you have a name for that one yet? Has it been released? It's not released yet.

Shab:

It's going to be Euphoric. Cool Net Love was the first one.

Jennifer Logue:

Second one is going to be euphoric, third one is um one suitcase oh my gosh, you're already on your third album and the second one's not even you are. You're superwoman shop, oh my gosh um, don't get fooled.

Shab:

I have a great team, but I also draw down tons of notes in my, in my, in my phone.

Jennifer Logue:

So that's beautiful. So where's next on tour we?

Shab:

are gonna go to um that's a good question. I'm gonna tell you right now. So our next um day is gonna be um okay, I'm looking um buzzing stoke I have no idea where that is. I'm learning. After that is Brighton, brighton, okay, and then oh, are you there? Okay, sorry. So then we're going to finish it at the last day. We'll be at Glasgow.

Jennifer Logue:

Oh beautiful, what a great city to finish it at the last day. We'll be at Glasgow. Oh beautiful, oh, what a great city to finish it in last day is.

Shab:

and then we have, of course, london and I love London so much. I just love the energy, I love the people and, oh my gosh, I always get such good vibes when I'm in and when I'm in UK and there's just been nothing but open, open, open arms of love for me, like everywhere I've been, and the people have been super receptive and loving, you know, to me, and of course, my beloved America, and I cannot wait to to tour in the US and spread, spread my love there as well.

Jennifer Logue:

Yes, we need your love to America.

Shab:

My beloved America. Yes, absolutely.

Jennifer Logue:

I have one more question for you. What advice would you have for an artist going through a trying time right now, or anyone going through a trying time Like how do you get to the other side?

Shab:

Don't ever give up. Believe in yourself. Take one day at a time, one breath at a time. Find people that uplift you, that inspire you, and don't give up. That's the best advice. Keep going every day. The moment you give up, someone else is going to come and go into the finish line. You just have to keep going until you get to your goal and be easy in yourself.

Shab:

Give yourself self-love, respect yourself. You know, like I always say like, believe in yourself before. Be your own hype man, hype woman. You know, give yourself like, and if something doesn't go the right way, it's okay, maybe it's just not meant to be, there's something better. But just don't stop. Keep going.

Shab:

Give yourself lots of love and self-love. Forgive your past, forgive and write. You know what. Use those as Stuff that has happened to you. Use it as kindling to healing yourself through music, through, you know, working out Whatever it might be. That's like feeding your soul. But find that that feeds your soul. That's in a healthy way, obviously, and once you get there, then you'll just your body will know and will align itself with that purpose and pray about it. Pray every day. Ask God, spirit, universal love, whatever it is that you believe in, jesus Christ. I mean, I love Jesus Christ. So, like you know, just do that and the universe will provide for you. But just be patient, be kind, be patient, have lots of gratitude in your heart. Those are the only best advice I can give to someone.

Jennifer Logue:

Thank you for tuning into this special rerun of my conversation with Shab. Her journey from refugee to international pop star is a testament to the power of resilience, creativity and staying true to oneself. If you haven't already, I encourage you to check out Shab's latest music and follow her journey at shabofficialcom. I'd also love to hear what resonated with you from this episode. Feel free to reach out to me on social media at Jennifer Logue, or leave a review on Apple Podcasts so more creatives can discover creative space. Thanks again for being part of this journey with me as we revisit the best of creative space so far. Stay tuned for more top episodes leading up to season three on Sunday, October 20th. My name is Jennifer Logue. Until next time.