Layla Kardan is an Iranian-Australian Singer, Songwriter, and Businesswoman based in Dubai. She gained recognition with her debut EP Abscission (2021), featuring singles like Loyalty. Born in Belgium to Iranian parents who fled during the revolution, she was raised between Sydney and Dubai, giving her a global perspective that influences her music.
More about Layla Kardan
Kardan moved from Sydney to Dubai in 1986, and after completing her marketing education, joined her family business.
She grew up learning ballet and listening to blues and jazz, but could not pursue her musical dreams because of family resistance.
Later, she decided she had had enough of her life working as a corporate strategist to please her parents while harboring a private passion for singing.
She released her first single ”As One” in 2017, and the song received a huge response from the audience as the song’s message of empowerment for women, and also an homage to the Emirates.
She debuts her EP with a soulful and sultry voice expressing undertones of Jazz and Soul music infused with Middle Eastern and poetic movements.
In 2017, she won the Emirates Woman Artist of the Year, which was held in Dubai.
Already in the Dubai music scene, she has performed at the Emirates Jazz Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, Art Dubai, The Global Education Forum, Emirates Literature Festival, and Meydan World Cup.
She has also performed for brands including Louis Vuitton, Piaget, Dior, Cartier, Vogue Arabia, Esquire Arabia, and numerous Harper’s Bazaar Arabia events.
The singer is also a regular at exclusive venues such as Little Black Door, Coya, OKKU, Blue Bar, Seven Sisters, Atelier M, The Music Room, and The Capital Club.
Internationally, she has collaborated with international producers as well as established artists from Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand.
Her exposure to different cultures and appreciation for genres bring a fresh and edgy approach to not only her music but also her creative direction and personal style.
