salem ilese

Salem Ilese started writing songs as a teenager in California and put out her first EP, 'Playing House,' in 2017. Her music tends toward the confessional, with lyrics that feel direct and personal rather than polished.

In 2020, her song 'Mad at Disney' connected with listeners in a way that brought wider attention. It's a sharp, plainspoken take on fairy-tale expectations, and it became her breakout track. Since then, she's released songs like 'PS5' with Alan Walker and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, 'Intuition,' and 'Modern Loneliness,' which continue in that vein of straightforward, diary-like writing.

Some of her work has sparked discussion, like 'The Magazine,' which touches on body image. She's also faced criticism for a lyric that included a racial slur, which she later apologized for. Her songs often feel like they're written in real time, reacting to what's happening around her or inside her head, and that unvarnished quality is what her listeners respond to.