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

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

Transcript

Shab's Journey to Empowerment

Jennifer Logue 0:11

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

Jennifer Logue 0:20

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 1:18

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 2:03

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 2:45

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 3:16

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 3:44

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 4:04

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

Shab 4:08

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 5:00

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 5:12

Correct , always , empowered Always .

Jennifer Logue 5:15

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 5:31

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 6:46

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 7:31

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 7:54

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

Shab 7:59

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

The Power of Music and Creativity

Shab 8:35

.

Shab 8:35

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 9:29

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

Shab 9:33

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

Jennifer Logue 9:38

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

Shab 9:45

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 10:17

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 11:11

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 11:20

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

Shab 11:24

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 12:01

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 12:09

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

Jennifer Logue 12:18

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

Shab 12:29

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 13:03

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

The Power of Creativity and Love

Shab 13:19

of the family . I'm the 13th um , and so I was always babied , you know .

Shab 13:23

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 14:02

Yeah , and even today yeah-improvement .

Shab 14:05

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 14:32

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 15:18

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 15:37

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 16:20

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 16:32

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 17:26

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 17:48

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 18:28

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 18:36

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 18:46

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 18:59

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 20:00

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 20:09

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 20:22

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 21:14

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 21:30

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 21:40

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 21:57

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 22:32

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 22:43

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 23:07

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

An Immigrant's Journey Through Music

Shab 23:22

.

Shab 23:22

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 24:29

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 25:10

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 25:16

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

Shab 25:22

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 25:45

Oh my gosh , you're phenomenal .

Shab 25:47

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 26:08

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 26:25

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 27:26

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 28:13

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

Shab 28:23

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 28:35

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 29:03

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 29:45

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 30:08

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 30:21

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 30:40

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 30:51

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 31:53

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 32:53

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 33:49

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 34:04

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 34:23

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

Shab 34:31

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

Jennifer Logue 34:35

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 34:58

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 35:44

Wow , yeah , so you know opening for .

Shab 35:47

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 36:31

Trust in God's timing , exactly , yeah .

Shab 36:37

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

A Journey of Hard Work

Shab 37:04

.

Shab 37:04

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 37:39

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

Shab 37:47

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 39:02

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 39:33

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 40:21

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

Shab 40:24

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 40:59

Oh , beautiful .

Shab 41:00

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 41:15

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 41:24

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 41:43

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 42:17

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 42:44

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 43:32

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 44:02

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 44:34

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 45:02

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 45:41

I'm going to start .

Shab 45:43

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 46:21

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 46:50

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

Journey of Resilience and Love

Shab 47:44

.

Shab 47:44

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 48:08

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 49:03

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 49:22

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

Shab 49:27

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 49:38

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

Shab 49:42

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

Jennifer Logue 49:49

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 50:02

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

Jennifer Logue 50:06

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

Shab 50:11

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 50:50

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 50:55

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 51:23

Yes , we need your love to America .

Shab 51:25

My beloved America . Yes , absolutely .

Jennifer Logue 51:29

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 51:47

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 52:19

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 52:43

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 53:38

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 .