VIDEO: INTERVIEW – Saleka Talks Overcoming Anxiety Acting in ‘Trap’, Making Music For Soundtrack

It was a exciting summer for the artist known as Saleka, who portrays Lady Raven in the movie ‘Trap’ and who was also the chief songwriter and producer on all 14 tracks of the movie’s soundtrack, ‘LADY RAVEN (Original Music From The Motion Picture TRAP)’. The movie was released in August and it’s accompanying soundtrack features previously released singles “Save Me”, “Release” and “DIVINE” featuring Kid Cudi, as each song was crafted and composed each song entwined with scenes of the movie from beginning to end. The movie was created by her and her father, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, “Purple Rain is one of our favorite movies,” she stated. “Film and music often go hand in hand in our culture, they are equally important in Bollywood movies. The concept for ‘Trap’ came from family conversations in the kitchen about wanting to bring these two art forms together in our own way. I wrote a lot of the songs at my parent’s house in the living room. This project felt like home, but allowed me to try musical ideas I never had before. It’s so pure and special to me.” In the movie, her character, Lady Raven, performs a concert as the thrilling story unfolds. “There’s a duality to the Soundtrack,” she explained, as she spoke about combining her classical training with her passion for R&B. “I wanted to make an album for me that’s in a genre I love. At the same time, every song was made for a specific scene with clear intention. Having the external storyline made the process even freer though. I could write in a way that was even more authentic since I wasn’t thinking about me. So, I didn’t edit myself as much. I expressed another side of who I am.” At just four-years-old, the Pennsylvania-born singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist started playing piano. Saleka would later one start composing her own songs, influenced by the artists she admired that includes JAY-Z, Lauryn Hill, Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Jeff Buckley.

Purchase the ‘LADY RAVEN (Original Music From The Motion Picture TRAP)’: (Original Music From The Motion Picture TRAP)

Saleka spoke with B-Sides host Pete Mar about her first time acting in a big role for the movie ‘Trap’, creating and singing the music for the film and more.