For Lia D’Sau, songwriting is a declaration. The 18-year-old singer-songwriter explores her thoughts on womanhood, relationships and social issues with maturity and curiosity, using music as her toolkit. “Having other people write songs for me seemed daunting, terrible,”says D’Sau. “I’ve been taught to look deeper at the world since I was a child, and I have things I want to say.”
Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, D’sau grew up listening to her parents’ favorite R&B records, with her father being a former boy band member himself. D’sau began singing at age eight, eventually attending music camp in New York City at age fifteen. Fusing her love of indie and the R&B she was raised on, D’sau’s debut single “Manboy” cuts deep. Her tender voice laments a breakup she initiated, gliding over acoustic guitar and synths that resemble breaking ocean waves. “Manboy” is the first track off D’Sau’s upcoming debut EP, produced by her collaborator Midi Jones (Demi Lovato, Audrey Mika, Alessia Cara).
Getting to know Lia
Can you introduce yourself? you, are you? What matters to you?
I’m Lia, an 18-year-old singer songwriter from Israel. I make R&B inspired indie music and I just released my debut single “Manboy”! I am very passionate about the environment and truly believe that every action, no matter how small, can help. Which is why I compost, and thrift all my clothes among other things.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I can really mess with my eyes. Like roll them all the way backwards and cross them in different directions!
If you could learn any language fluently, which would it be?
Arabic for sure. Most of my aunts and uncles know how to speak, and my dad understands it. I would love to speak Arabic
Do you have any lucky items? Superstitions?
Actually, no. I try to live without mental restrictions, so lucky items don’t really exist for me, i want to believe that everything can be lucky. And superstitions also.
What’s your most expensive piece of clothing?
All my clothes are thrifted, so a pair of vintage armani jeans that cost me 10$? That’s another reason why I love to thrift. I save so much money, so I can go shopping more than once or twice a year. My closet is overflowing though!
Who or what inspired you to make music?
I don’t really know how to answer this question, because I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember. Growing up, we always had music playing in the house. My whole family is very musical, so singing and writing songs is just something I do, like eating and breathing.
If you could open a show for any one artist, who would it be?
Wow. If we’re talking dead or alive, then Amy Winehouse 100 percent. No question about it. But if we’re talking actual possibilities, I’d love to perform before BENEE. I love her music and lyrics and her new album is sooo good.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
This may sound dumb, but I was with a friend once and I dropped something on the floor, and she told me not to try and grab it as it was falling, but to look at it is falling and then you can see where it fell, and you won’t lose it. Best advice I’ve ever been given.
What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
I think what sets my music apart are my influences. I grew up with my parents playing old school hip hop and funk and r&b in the house, and as I grew older, I started finding music on my own, and that opened me up to indie and alternative music that I also love. So I feel as though my music is a mix of two very different styles.
What are your top two favorite albums of all time? Why?
Cntrl by SZA – first time i’ve listened to an album top to bottom on repeat, got me through 11th grade finals haha.
Looking for dorot by shotay hanevoha – they were an Israeli band, insanely musical and enchanting. I love this album because it makes me nostalgic about growing up and my family. Every time I feel disconnected or homesick, I listen to that album.