Rising Auckland singer and songwriter Sabreen Islam has today released ‘victory’ - the next single from her debut EP, ROOM SERVICE, which is out on March 10.
Listen to ‘victory’ HERE
Watch ‘victory’ HERE
‘victory’ is a deeply moving, melancholic piano ballad, showcasing a more vulnerable side to the songs that feature on Sabreen’s upcoming EP, which include previously released singles ‘you will never see this’ and ‘still love you’. It is one of the first that Sabreen wrote for the EP and bravely sees the young artist exploring the very serious issue of sexual violation and its traumatic impact.
“It’s about the complicated emotions and second-guessing we do to try and deal with what’s happened - navigating the hurt, betrayal, anger and sadness,” explains Sabreen. “The lyrics are very close to my heart, and unpack some of the ridiculous things that society tells survivors in order to blame them for what has happened, when the blame lies solely with the perpetrator, not the victim.”
Releasing ‘victory’ has been made even more special thanks to the involvement of Sabreen’s dad, Monirul Islam, who assisted in production alongside Auckland-based Sophie Bialostocki. “He saw how much the song meant to me and since he’s a music guy himself, gave me some guidance on how the song should build and what should be added for it to truly shine.”
There is also a beautiful video that Sabreen made with her best friend Fabressa Iqram. It is powerful in its simplicity, with a stunning performance by Sabreen.
For Sabreen, songwriting is all about wearing her heart on her sleeve. “I write a lot of really confronting, difficult songs when I’m going through it, and this is a taste of it. Writing about difficult feelings is how I process and heal; it’s a big part of my artistry, and who I am as a person.”
Fans now only have one more week to wait for the debut EP, ROOM SERVICE, which is guaranteed to resonate with those who’ve already fallen in love with Sabreen’s refreshing take on indie-pop. “Music has a powerful way of translating experiences and mobilising change. That’s my goal — I want my music to not only help me through my experiences, but hopefully make someone else feel less alone, and perhaps start some important discussions along the way, too.”
Sabreen recently announced her debut headline show at Auckland’s newest venue, Big Fan, Sunday 19 March, with support from Katie-Lee. Just one week after the release of her debut EP ROOM SERVICE, Sabreen and her band are playing all six brand new songs live for the first time.
Tickets are available at Under The Radar HERE
Sabreen Islam is a Bengali-New Zealand singer-songwriter from Auckland. With her signature soft-pop sound and storytelling lyrics, she was selected as a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2020. With eight singles under her belt, ROOM SERVICE is her debut EP and will be released everywhere on Friday 10 March 2023.
Should you or someone you know need support, you can seek help from these organisations
● Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.
● Victim Support 0800 842 846, text 4334, webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz.
Find Sabreen Islam