
Elyanna
PalestineBirthday
January 22, 2002
Birth Sign
Aquarius
Birthplace
Nazareth, Israel/Palestine
Age
24 years old
About
Elyanna is a Palestinian-Chilean singer-songwriter who blends Arabic melodies with Latin rhythms and modern pop to create an experimental sound. She is known for her historic performances, including a full Arabic set at Coachella in 2023 and becoming the first artist to sing in Arabic on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2024. Her debut album Woledto, released in 2024, topped charts and led to sold-out shows at major venues like The Wiltern in Los Angeles and KOKO in London. Elyanna has achieved significant global success, with charting singles such as "Ana Lahale" and "Ala Bali" from her earlier EPs. She has collaborated with major artists, including joining Coldplay on stage at Glastonbury. Elyanna's distinctive sound and powerful stage presence have made her a prominent symbol of Arab representation on international platforms. She continues to tour and release new music as of 2026.
Early Life & Background
Elian Amer Marjieh, professionally known as Elyanna, was born on January 22, 2002, in Nazareth, Israel/Palestine. Her upbringing was deeply immersed in a vibrant artistic environment, a household rich with both poetry and music. Her mother was a poet, a talent shared by her maternal grandfather, fostering an atmosphere of creative expression. Her father, meanwhile, expanded her musical horizons by introducing her to a diverse pantheon of legendary artists, from the emotive power of Julio Iglesias to the classical Arabic stylings of Sabah Fakhri. This early exposure, coupled with frequent childhood visits to her grandmother in Chile, a pianist herself, profoundly shaped Elyanna’s unique bicultural identity as Palestinian-Chilean, laying the groundwork for her future sound.
It was within this nurturing home that Elyanna’s own musical journey began. She started singing at the tender age of seven, often found by the side of her older brother, Feras, during his piano lessons. Feras quickly recognized his sister's innate talent and became her first champion, evolving into her dedicated pianist and creative director. By fifth grade, Elyanna was already gracing school talent shows, where teachers and peers alike were struck by her transformation from a shy girl into a commanding and captivating stage presence. As a teenager, she continued to develop her craft, posting cover songs on SoundCloud alongside her brother, an endeavor that quickly earned them significant local popularity within their community.
A pivotal turning point in her young career arrived at the age of 15 when she was discovered by Grammy-winning songwriter Nasri Atweh. This significant encounter swiftly led to introductions with key industry figures, including manager Wassim "Sal" Slaiby and Canadian-Lebanese singer Massari. Guided by their expertise and vision, Elyanna signed with Universal Arabic Music. This momentous step precipitated a life-changing move to California with her family, where she fully dedicated herself to pursuing her musical aspirations professionally, marking the beginning of her international career.
Career Growth
Elyanna signed with Universal Arabic Music and released her self-titled debut EP in 2020, introducing her signature Arab-pop sound. Her second EP, Elyanna II (2022), included singles like "Ana Lahale," "Ghareeb Alay," "Ala Bali," and "Mama Eh," which charted on The Official Lebanese Top 20. The music video for "Al Kawn Janni Maak" earned over 3 million views in two months. In 2023, she performed a historic set entirely in Arabic at Coachella, becoming one of the first artists to do so. The performance was widely celebrated as a breakthrough for Arabic music. In 2024, she released her debut studio album Woledto and embarked on a tour that sold out The Wiltern in Los Angeles and KOKO in London. She made history as the first artist to sing in Arabic on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. That June, she joined Coldplay on stage at Glastonbury Festival, performing "Arabesque" and "We Pray" alongside Femi Kuti, Little Simz, and Burna Boy. As of 2026, she continues to tour and release new music under Universal Arabic Music.
Career Timeline
Public Image & Style
Elyanna is known for blending traditional Arabic instrumentation like oud, tabla, and darbuka with Latin rhythms and modern pop production. Her visual style often incorporates Palestinian cultural elements, such as keffiyeh patterns, alongside contemporary fashion. On stage, she projects fierce energy, contrasting with her naturally shy off-stage personality. She describes her stage persona as "Elyanna" stepping in when she performs. Media outlets have called her rise meteoric and praise her as a groundbreaking artist bringing Arabic music to global audiences. Her fans, who wave Palestinian flags and keffiyehs at her concerts, connect with her cultural pride and authenticity. On social media, she maintains a warm, grateful tone, frequently sharing behind-the-scenes content and celebrating her heritage.
Fame & Fandom
Elyanna's rise has been nothing short of meteoric, but the iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated her and she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, neither the Global Top 1,000 nor any Top-100 scope list. That's a temporary state, not a measure of her impact; her historic Coachella set and World Cup anthem have already made her a global name.
Her fandom, known as the Elyanna Army, is as passionate as it is international, uniting fans across the Arab world, Latin America, and the diaspora. They rally around her cultural pride, whether she's performing in Arabic on late-night TV or repping Palestine on the world stage. The Army was instrumental in amplifying her Coachella moment, and they've turned every release into a celebration of Arab representation. While there are no documented formal fan campaigns or inside jokes yet, the Army's energy is unmistakable on TikTok, where Elyanna's 2.4 million followers hang on her every post.
Elyanna herself is deeply engaged with her fans, using Instagram to drop tour news and personal updates, and TikTok to share relatable, behind-the-scenes content. She's known for making fans feel seen, whether it's through her music or her candid interviews. The Elyanna Army isn't just a fanbase; it's a movement, growing stronger with every barrier she breaks.
Interesting Facts and Legends
Elyanna's stage name comes from her birth name Elian; she says "when I work, Elyanna steps in," referencing her stage persona. She watched live performances of Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Freddie Mercury as a child, which inspired her stage presence. Her brother Feras discovered her talent when she was seven. She is managed by Wassim "Sal" Slaiby, who also manages The Weeknd. Her song "Ana Lahale" has accumulated over 18 million streams on Spotify. She credits her Palestinian-Chilean duality as central to her musical identity. She was featured on magazine covers including Vogue Arabia in a social media advertisement, Numéro Netherlands, AZEEMA Magazine, and South China Morning Post. Her birthdate is January 22, 2002, and she is 24 years old as of 2026.
One of the most retold stories in her career is her 2023 Coachella performance, where she became the first artist to perform a full set in Arabic at the festival, a moment that instantly became legend among her fans. Another tale that still circulates is "Coldplay-Gate," an incident involving Coldplay that sparked widespread discussion and added to her mythology. And in 2026, she made history again by performing the FIFA World Cup anthem "Illuminate" with Jessie Reyez, a moment fans cite as proof of her global ascendancy.
Notable Quotes
“I know I'm meant to be doing exactly what I'm doing right now. Since I was a young girl in Nazareth, it was my dream to make a career out of being an artist.”
“I try not to rely on validation. I never want to be distracted from the things I truly believe in or the essence of why I'm doing music.”
“I was shy but when I go on stage I'm fierce. My real name is Elian, so I always say when I work, Elyanna steps in.”
Family & Personal Life
Elyanna's family is deeply artistic. Her mother is a Palestinian poet who contributes to songwriting, and her father introduced her to classic artists like Julio Iglesias. Her maternal grandfather was a Palestinian poet and zajal singer who performed at Palestinian weddings, and her paternal grandmother was a pianist from Chile whom Elyanna frequently visited as a child. She has an older brother, Feras, who is her pianist, producer, and creative director, and a sister, Tali, who handles her styling. The family moved to California together to support her career. As of 2026, she is not married and has no children.
Notable Connections
Elyanna works closely with her brother Feras Marjieh, who serves as her pianist, producer, and creative director. Her sister Tali handles her styling. She was discovered by Grammy-winning songwriter Nasri Atweh, who remains a mentor and collaborator. Her manager Wassim "Sal" Slaiby also manages The Weeknd. She has collaborated with Canadian-Lebanese singer Massari and performed on stage with Coldplay, Femi Kuti, Little Simz, and Burna Boy at Glastonbury 2024.
Relationships & Dating History
Salary, Net Worth In 2026
$1 Million
iFANN Editorial Team estimate
iFANN's editorial analysis currently estimates Elyanna's net worth at $1 million. As an emerging artist early in her career, her primary income sources include streaming royalties from platforms like Spotify and YouTube, live performance fees from touring and festival appearances, and merchandise sales. She is signed to Universal Arabic Music and managed by Wassim "Sal" Slaiby. Her debut album Woledto and sold-out shows at venues like The Wiltern and KOKO have contributed to her growing earnings. She also has endorsement deals with brands featured in her music videos and social media. While her net worth is modest compared to established stars, her historic performances at Coachella, Glastonbury, and on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert have raised her profile and earning potential.
Awards Won (2)
Elyanna has not yet won major international awards. Her career is in an early but rapidly ascending phase, and she has received critical acclaim from outlets like Rolling Stone and Billboard. This section will be updated as her career progresses.
2024 · Top Arabic Indie Female Artist
Herself
2024 · Top New Artist
Herself
Known For
Coachella Arabic Set
2023 · Performer
Woledto
2024 · Album
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2024 · Musical Guest
Glastonbury with Coldplay
2024 · Guest Performer
Keywords
Sources
Quick Facts
- Profession
- singer-songwriter
- Born
- 2002-01-22
- Birthplace
- Nazareth, Israel/Palestine
- Gender
- Female
- Birth Sign
- Aquarius
- Nationality
- Palestinian-Chilean
- Label
- Universal Arabic Music
- Manager
- Wassim "Sal" Slaiby
Personal Details
- Full Name
- Elian Amer Marjieh
Frequently Asked Questions
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