Sevara: Letters To My Future Self

For Sevara, songwriting remains inseparable from self-expression, a way of preserving moments of understanding in tangible form. Each track captures a particular point in her life to return to in retrospect with a different perspective. Her songs, she says, are “letters to my future self”. 

Her latest single, See It Through, emerged from one of those moments. Written during a visit to Uzbekistan, it reflects the sense of peace she gradually found after returning home feeling overwhelmed. Empowerment and self-motivation have always informed her work, but this track approaches them with greater gentleness. Rather than suggesting that resilience means overcoming every difficulty, the song explores the possibility of trusting that things will eventually fall into place. There is a distinction between optimism and the denial of uncertainty. See It Through does not promise that everything will be easy; its strength lies in recognising that the present is not the destination. 

Her sound moves between indie rock, alternative and R&B, though she does not consider genre a conscious choice. Her music develops around the qualities of a particular sound and its emotional resonance. This instinctive approach extends to her cultural identity. On In Between, a calm, R&B-influenced opening gives way to Uzbek instruments and motifs. 

A: What first sparked your interest in music, and how did you get into songwriting?

SAs long as I can remember, I have known instinctively that I wanted to sing. At first I admired powerful, rich female voices, like Rihanna and Sia, and then became interested in the music behind their records. To this day, if a voice is not aligned with my taste, I will not listen to it, even if the instrumentals are great. 

I also wanted to write my own songs and create music from scratch. I see it all as one project. Having someone else write a piece for me is much less enjoyable, because I want to express myself as an artist, and that expression is a big part of me.

A: Is there any early record of yours that you still stand behind? What connects you with it to this day?

SIn Between. It was my first single after a break, and the idea for it popped into my head out of nowhere. My Uzbek roots played a big role in its creative direction. The first part is calmer, inspired by R&B, and the second part is heavily influenced by Uzbek instruments, motifs and sound in general.

I hold this track close to my heart because it is incredibly personal, and I find it empowering. I was also inspired by Zeyne and her track Asli Anna. It was heavily influenced by her culture, which opened my eyes to the opportunity of leaning into mine.

**A: What does your creative process look like, and what inspired *See It Through?***

SIt varies with each song, but it is purely instinctual. See It Through, came to me when I was in Uzbekistan. I woke up in the middle of the night to grab water, and I could not get this melody out of my head. I just started writing it down, and I ended up writing the lyrics in twenty minutes or less.

I had a specific sound in my mind, so within minutes I was in my living room recording a voice memo of how I wanted it to sound from beginning to end. I was adding the drums and already had the whole concept for the visuals. It completely took over me.

I wrote the first rough version in January, while back home. It was quite a transformative trip. When I had first arrived in December, I came with a heavy heart and felt incredibly overwhelmed, but being back home with my family allowed me to find peace with what was bothering me. That emotional reset allowed me to receive See It Through and the concept behind it. It felt like a new beginning.

A: What does this song say that you could not say any other way?

SI needed to tell the story of this novel feeling: the understanding that everything will be good in the end, and a confidence that no matter what, I will be able to survive it. It is an overwhelming mix of hope, joy and belief in your own abilities. 

I think once you hear See It Through, you understand the exact emotion behind it. At the end of the day, it is about knowing that you are not where you want to be, but also knowing that there is a process around it. There is still hope, and not everything is over.

A: What kind of room do you want your music to create for people?

SI want people who listen to my music and come to see my live shows to feel present, connected and in the moment, with each other and with me.

Especially with See It Through, I wanted to help my listeners feel motivated to keep going. It may be incredibly difficult, and you may not know how to move forward just yet, but it is not the end. I hope to lead listeners into a positive mindset, to feel grounded and appreciate their lives.

find Sevara on:

instagram: @sevabakhadi

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Ni4j295FA89RUeXF4Gx8r?si=JCmy80AYTmOpO4bDSXMrKw