We had the good fortune of connecting with Somaya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Somaya, is there something you believe many others might not?
A piece of advice I was given a lot a few years ago was to “tone myself down” so that I’d be more palatable to people. I went along with it for a long time, but eventually decided to listen to my gut and be more open on social media. The second I made that switch, I started seeing more success. The truth is people want to see authenticity; and your personal authenticity isn’t necessarily what they’re used to seeing, so it will be refreshing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a singer/songwriter, and have recently started producing my own music as well. I started writing songs when I was in middle school, and released my first album on streaming platforms in 2017. Since then, I’ve become much more open about my queerness and experiences both in my music and on social media, which has helped me see more success in my art. My recent song releases take inspiration from bands like The 1975 and LANY, and I’m always working to expand the kind of music I write and produce. I want people to know that my biggest overall goal with anything I create is to help move us towards a more inclusive and compassionate world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Illegal Burger on Larimer! Not only are the people who work there super friendly, but their fries are some of the best I’ve had. I also like to take friends to Urban Putt. It’s the most high-tech mini golf place I’ve ever been to, and it’s always a good time. I haven’t gotten a chance to check out Meow Wolf yet, but I’d love to check that out with a friend too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family. Being in the arts, being queer, and being open about mental health often aren’t considered acceptable in the South Asian community, but my parents fully support all of these parts of me, which is very encouraging.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somayamusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/somayamusic

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1T4lXkUsMvWaBpk4DjMrdZ?si=4rm1Ty2YTG6EepRXLj3Dsg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@somayamusic?

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.