Sevdaliza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sevdaliza
Sevdaliza performing in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Sevda Alizadeh
Born	(1987-09-01) 1 September 1987 (age 37) Tehran, Iran
Origin	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Genres	Electronic alternative R&B trip hop avant-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter producer
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Twisted Elegance

Sevda Alizadeh (born September 1, 1987), who is known by her stage name Sevdaliza, is an Iranian-Dutch singer, songwriter, and producer. She is also a visual artist and director, creating unique music videos.

Sevdaliza is known for her electronic and alternative R&B music. She mostly sings in English, but in 2017, she released her first song in the Persian language, called "Bebin." She released this song to protest a travel ban ordered by the U.S. government.

Her first album, ISON, came out in 2017. She has since released more music, including the album Shabrang in 2020 and Heroina in 2025.

Life and Career

Early Life

Sevda Alizadeh was born in Tehran, Iran, on September 1, 1987. When she was five years old, her family moved to the Netherlands.

As a teenager, she was a talented basketball player. She earned a basketball scholarship and even played for the Dutch national basketball team. After her sports career, she went to a university and earned a master's degree in communications. Sevdaliza can speak five languages: Persian, Dutch, English, French, and Portuguese.

First EPs and ISON Album (2014–2018)

In 2014, Sevdaliza began releasing music, starting with singles like "Clear Air." In 2015, she released her first extended play (EP), The Suspended Kid. An EP is like a short album with just a few songs. She said the title was about feeling different in social situations and choosing her own path in life.

Later that year, she released another EP called Children of Silk. It included the popular trip hop song "Marilyn Monroe." She said the EP was inspired by textures like skin, glass, and silk.

Sevdaliza performing in Oslo in 2016

In 2017, Sevdaliza released her first full album, ISON. The album was named after Comet ISON, a comet that flew very close to the sun. The album included songs from her earlier EPs, like "Human" and "Marilyn Monroe."

That same year, she released the song "Bebin" to protest a U.S. executive order that banned travel from several countries, including Iran. She said, "In protest of the inhumane political climate, I could not rest my head in privilege. I wrote 'Bebin' in Farsi... I stand strong with love."

In 2018, she released another EP called The Calling. She also released a Portuguese version of her song "Human," titled "Humana," to thank her fans after the music video reached 10 million views.

Recent Music and Viral Hits (2019–Present)

Sevdaliza released her second album, Shabrang, in August 2020. The album was praised by critics and reached number 39 on the Dutch music charts.

In 2022, she released the EP Raving Dahlia. Later that year, she released the song "Woman Life Freedom" to show support for the Mahsa Amini protests in her home country of Iran.

In 2023, her song "Ride or Die," featuring rapper Villano Antillano, became a viral hit on the social media app TikTok. She also released the song "Nothing Lasts Forever" with the artist Grimes.

Her song "Alibi" was released in June 2024 and became a huge international success. The song, which features Brazilian singer Pabllo Vittar and French singer Yseult, entered the Top 50 chart on Spotify. Sevdaliza performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

In 2025, Sevdaliza released her third studio album, Heroina.

Artistry

Musical Style

Sevdaliza's music is a mix of different styles, including electronic, alternative R&B, and trip hop. Her sound has been compared to artists like Portishead and Björk.

Sevdaliza says she is not focused on one genre. Instead, she is drawn to a certain mood, like melancholy. She finds it interesting that her music is often compared to artists she has not listened to. She believes that some musical ideas come to her naturally, without her even realizing it. Her music often explores ideas about being a woman, identity, and motherhood.

Music Videos

Sevdaliza is known for her artistic and thought-provoking music videos. Her album ISON is a visual album, which means it has a long film that goes with the music. The film is over an hour long and is meant to be watched in one sitting, like a "moving painting."

"Human"

In the video for "Human," Sevdaliza performs as a mythical creature for a small audience of wealthy men. The setting is a large, mysterious building. The video explores ideas about being watched and performance. The video was directed by Emmanuel Adjei.

"Amandine Insensible"

In this video, Sevdaliza plays different roles that women are often expected to fill in society. For example, she acts as a call center operator and a glamorous woman in a silk robe. To make a point about how life has become commercial, she sold clips from the video on the stock footage website Shutterstock.

"Nothing Lasts Forever"

This music video was made with Grimes. It uses AI technology to place the faces of Sevdaliza, Grimes, and other celebrities like Madonna onto the bodies of female bodybuilders. The video was filmed in an empty parking lot.

Album Art

ISON

The cover art for ISON is a sculpture of Sevdaliza's head and shoulders. The sculpture, made of silicone by artist Sarah Sitkin, looks very realistic. Sitkin said the artwork is about "Sevdaliza being the mother to herself and her past lives." The artwork shows 16 smaller sculptures around the main one, representing the 16 songs on the album.

Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Guest appearances

Videography

Music videos

Films