For Sofia Gillani, music is an extension of identity. The avant-garde Asian pop artist blends experimental sounds, cinematic visuals and personal storytelling to explore femininity, culture and self-expression.
Her latest work, Don’t Forget Yourself and Reconceptualize, reflects an evolving creative vision centered on growth without losing sight of who you are.
Anyway! Magazine spoke with Gillani about her artistic journey, the meaning behind her music and the creative world she’s continuing to build.
Anyway: Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are as an artist?
“I’m Sofia Gillani, an avant-garde Asian pop artist, songwriter and creative. For me, music is a space where I can explore identity, emotion, femininity, culture and the contradictions that exist within all of us.”
For Gillani, creating music means building an entire world rather than focusing on individual songs.
“I’ve always been drawn to creating worlds rather than simply making songs. I want the music, visuals, fashion and storytelling to feel connected, almost like different pieces of the same universe.”
Watch the music video for “don’t forget yourself” below.
Anyway: What inspired you to start making music, and how did your journey begin?
“Music has always been a language I naturally understood. From a young age, I was fascinated by the way a song could completely change your emotional state or make you feel understood without knowing exactly why.”
What began as a natural connection to music eventually became a way of understanding her own experiences.
“Music has always been a language I naturally understood. From a young age, I was fascinated by the way a song could completely change your emotional state or make you feel understood without knowing exactly why.”
DON’T FORGET YOURSELF
Anyway: How would you describe your aesthetic, sound, and overall creative vision?
Gillani’s approach brings together contrasting influences, pairing experimental pop with an emotional foundation.
“Visually, I’m interested in contrast — beauty and darkness, softness and strength, nostalgia and futurism. I want my aesthetic to feel cinematic but still intimate.”
That willingness to experiment extends beyond her sound.
“Ultimately, my creative vision is about freedom. I don’t want to feel restricted by genre, expectations or what an artist is ‘supposed’ to look or sound like.”
At the center of Gillani’s recent work is Don’t Forget Yourself, a track examining the compromises people make when trying to meet outside expectations.
Anyway: Don’t Forget Yourself feels like both a reminder and a warning. What inspired the song, and what does that phrase mean to you?
“Don’t Forget Yourself” came from thinking about how easy it is to lose pieces of who you are while trying to fit into someone else’s expectations.”
For Gillani, the message isn’t about resisting change, but recognizing the difference between growth and abandoning one’s identity.
“It’s not about refusing to change. We’re supposed to change and grow. It’s about making sure that, while you’re evolving, you don’t abandon yourself in the process.”
Anyway: What did you want the production of Don’t Forget Yourself to communicate alongside the lyrics?
“I wanted the production to have a sense of tension underneath the emotion. There’s something quite hypnotic about the track, but there’s also an underlying feeling that something isn’t quite as comfortable as it first appears.”
The track’s atmospheric production reflects that emotional conflict, balancing dreamlike elements with darker undertones.
“There are moments where it feels almost beautiful and dreamlike, and then there’s this darker energy underneath it. That contrast reflects the message of the song really well.”
Gillani carries those themes into Reconceptualize, a project built around reconsidering personal experiences and embracing the possibility of change.
Anyway: You’re also releasing Reconceptualize on vinyl. What does the title represent, and what does this project mean to you?
“The title represents the idea that we’re never finished versions of ourselves. We can question what we’ve been taught, reinterpret our experiences and give ourselves permission to become something different.”
The vinyl release adds another layer of meaning.
“There’s something special about holding a physical piece of your work in your hands. In a world where so much music is consumed digitally and instantly, vinyl gives the project a sense of permanence.”
Anyway: How does Don’t Forget Yourself fit into the larger world of Reconceptualize?
“If Reconceptualize is about questioning and redefining yourself, then ‘Don’t Forget Yourself’ is almost a reminder of the person at the centre of that process.”
The single reinforces that message.
“The song explores identity from a slightly more protective perspective. It’s saying: grow, change, explore and become whoever you’re meant to become — but don’t lose your core in the process.”
BEYOND EXPECTATIONS
Gillani also challenges expectations surrounding cultural identity and artistic expression.
Anyway: You describe yourself as an avant-garde Asian pop artist. How has that identity influenced the music and creative world you’ve built?
“I don’t want to create from a place of trying to fit into someone else’s idea of what an Asian artist should be. I’m interested in taking all of those influences and experiences and transforming them into something that feels completely mine. I want the world I build to feel like there are no limitations on what an Asian artist can be.
Anyway: What is something you’re especially proud of right now?
“I’m proud that I’m allowing myself to be more honest and fearless creatively. I’m also incredibly proud of Reconceptualize and of ‘Don’t Forget Yourself’. They represent a version of me that feels much more confident in saying exactly what I want to say.”
Anyway: What’s next for Sofia Gillani, and what can listeners look forward to?
“There’s a lot more coming. I’m continuing to develop the world around Reconceptualize, with more music, visuals and creative projects on the way.”
As for what comes next?
“For listeners, I’d say expect the unexpected. Reconceptualize is only one chapter, and I’m very excited about where the next chapter is going to take me.”
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