DUA SALEH'S LIFE HAS ALWAYS REVOLVED AROUND POETRY. GROWING UP IN SUDAN, SURROUNDED BY THE RHYTHMIC CADENCE OF SPOKEN WORD AND THE RICH CULTURAL HISTORY OF ORAL STORYTELLING, THEIR CONNECTION TO THE ART FORM RUNS DEEP. IT WASN’T SOMETHING THEY DISCOVERED—IT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE IMMERSED IN FROM THE START. OVER TIME, THEIR JOURNEY EVOLVED, AND MUSIC FOUND ITS WAY INTO THEIR WORLD, FIRST AS A MEANS OF SELF-SOOTHING DURING DIFFICULT TIMES, AND LATER AS AN OUTLET FOR THEIR CREATIVITY, WITH THEIR WORDS TURNING INTO MELODIES. DESPITE THE EXCLUSIVELY THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE OF THEIR MUSIC, IT SOON FOUND UNIVERSAL VALUE. NOW, WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR FIRST ALBUM I SHOULD CALL THEM, THEY HAVE FOUND A GLOBAL AUDIENCE. WE TALK TO YOUR NEW FAVOURITE ARTIST ABOUT THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS, MANIFESTATION, AND NETFLIX DMS.

Left Jumpsuit **Acne Studios**, vintage top and tie, hat stylist’s own
Right Dress worn as a top **Loewe**, long sleeves, shorts and accessories stylist’s own

You started writing poetry quite young - how did you discover poetry or the written art form in general?

I grew up in Sudan, which is rich in poetry, musical prowess, and lyricism. I’ve always been surrounded by orators. A huge part of history-keeping in Sudan is oration through poetic cadence or the spoken word. So, I don’t remember the first poetry I read or wrote, but I do remember being influenced by the Quran as a child and how my grandmother and other women around me spoke poetically. You don’t notice it if you’re immersed in the culture.

Sheer jacket **Dsquared2**, vintage red jacket, hat stylist’s own

When did you realize that spoken word could evolve into music or something that you could transfer into a musical medium?

Surprisingly, I started writing music when I was about 22 or 23, and I didn’t think I would be drawn into the music industry. I was just soothing myself through panic attacks and mental health crises during university, dealing with dysphoria, relationship issues, family stuff—things many other trans people can relate to. My body started to manifest healing through melodies I would hum to myself. The vibrations of humming would calm me down and allow me a moment of rest. It didn’t happen until later. Songwriting came easily because I had been writing poetry since I was 3, but the melody came to me much later.

Left Coat **Paul Smith**, vintage top and tie, hat and shoes stylist’s own
Right Dress worn as a top **Loewe**, long sleeves, shorts and accessories stylist’s own, shoes **Lacoste**

It’s so interesting to hear you talk about the therapeutic aspect of music. I'm sorry to hear about what you've gone through, but have you still found that connection with music as it’s become your professional path?

I think it’s more interesting now because I can laugh with music. I allow myself to dance to tracks and be moved by beats, not just using it as a crutch for mental health crises. But music is still cathartic for me. Whatever I’m feeling at the moment, you’ll hear it in whatever body of work I put out. It’s immediate and sure of itself. It’s what needs to come out of me at that time.

Hoodie and shoes stylist’s Own, pants **Paul Smith**, gloves **Luciana Balderrama**

I appreciate how your music comes from a necessity rather than a desire. And as I interpret it, it feels like an intimate conversation. How do you choose when to guide your audience or leave things open to interpretation?

I’ve learned not to take myself too seriously, thanks to the people I’ve collaborated with. Some elements of songwriting carry a veil, and sometimes people write in flowery ways because everyone wants to feel profound. But I’ve learned that some of the best songwriting is blunt and truthful. It’s about being true to yourself and reaching out to people, letting them understand what you’re going through because we all share human emotions. I’m learning to not be as obscure and to be more accessible. But I’m still a poet at heart, so sometimes I keep those flowery songs to myself.

I want to talk to you about the making of your first LP. How did it feel to create your first extended body of work?

It was intentional. I wasn’t scared anymore to create an album. I was told early on that I’d get more attention with an album, but I was nervous because releasing an LP means exposing a deeper part of yourself. It’s a part of your soul you’re sharing with the world. It took me a while, and I wanted it to be true to me. I looked back at my history, my relationship with music, and my love for R&B. I wanted to make an album that felt nostalgic and like home to me, because that’s how music has always been for me. But it took time because of my anxiety. Giving people insight into your life is nerve-wracking, but I believe albums are about storytelling, and I love listening to full albums to understand an artist's journey. Music has always been about sharing stories, and I wanted to do that on my own.

Jumpsuit **Acne Studios**, vintage top, tie and shoes, hat stylist’s own

We’ve also seen you act in Sex Education. Is acting something you always wanted to do?

I feel like I accidentally manifested it. I wasn’t looking to be an actor, but just before the pandemic hit, I was about to go on my first tour. When everything shut down, I was anxious about how I would survive financially. Then, I got a DM about acting in Sex Education. It was unexpected, but it happened after I finished a 21-day meditation journey I found on YouTube. I was literally at rock bottom because I couldn’t sing. I was scared because that was my income. I did my 21-day meditation because I was having so many panic attacks. But then after I was done with it, I just continued with my yoga. And yeah, I got a random DM from somebody who was connected to casting. The casting director reached out to my manager, and my manager was like, "Yeah, you kind of have to do this, even if you’re scared." And I was like, “Oh, okay.”

Hoodie stylist’s Own, pants **Paul Smith**, vintage belt, gloves **Luciana Balderrama**

Is acting something you think you’d like to keep pursuing?

Right now, I’m focusing on music. It’s my first time putting out an album, and I want to do it right and with intention, especially since the Recording Academy recently put me on the list of "artists to watch.” I’m grateful for all this. I think because I’ve put so much effort into this rollout, it’s been paying off. Even if it doesn’t translate in the ways that you might think, I’m still very aware of the eyes that are on me. So yeah, I’m trying to do it with purpose. But in the future, acting will always be a part of my story.