International pop recording artist Zeliha is taking over the music scene with her latest TikTok trending song, “Like Me.’ The highly anticipated debut release from the Aussie songstress is dedicated to authenticity and mindfulness which continues to resonate with audiences.
Growing Up
Growing up in various countries like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Australia, Zeliha’s life was a whirlwind of constant movement and adaptation. Amidst the challenges of constantly relocating, she found solace in writing what she perceived as pop songs and turned to singing as a means to balance her emotions as a shy child, who often faced bullying and lacked long-term friendships in foreign environments.
Flourishing in the Outback
Once settled in Australia, Zeliha fully embraced her musical aspirations by joining numerous bands and performing at open mic nights. This passion led her to form a blues jazz rock band and participate in the prestigious Australian ‘Battle of the Bands Hard Rock Cafe’ International Competition in 2019, where she achieved recognition as a finalist among 500 entrants.
Zeliha’s musical journey further flourished as she collaborated as a songwriter with Grammy and ARIA award-winning producers. However, her teenage years were marked by battles with depression and low self-worth, pushing her to find her way back to inner peace and self-acceptance.
The Inspiration Behind “Like Me’
The message of the song is clear from Zeliha whose lyrics state, I don’t need anyone to like me, I need to like me. She explains, “What truly matters is that we like ourselves and embrace our uniqueness. I guess it started when I was younger. I struggled with acne and acne scarring, which led me to compare myself constantly to the flawless images portrayed by the hottest models and influencers on social media. In today’s world, we are consumed by apps like Instagram, TikTok, and others, spending significant time on our screens, mesmerized by the seemingly “picture-perfect” lives of others. We get caught up in the number of likes, comments, and followers, losing sight of reality.
One day, I had an awakening. I realized that constantly seeking validation from others and striving for perfection is an endless and fruitless pursuit. I understood that I will never be perfect, but that’s okay because perfection isn’t real. I needed to love myself from within and accept my imperfections to find true happiness.
That realization inspired me to write a song that reflects this newfound self-love and acceptance. With the support of my good friends Kartik Kuna and Jordan Leonard, we crafted a positive and upbeat track. We had a blast experimenting with phone sounds in the song, symbolizing the digital world’s influence on our self-perceptions. This sentiment resonates with many others who have also felt the pressures of social media and the unrealistic standards it perpetuates. Through the song, we aim to spread positivity, self-empowerment, and the understanding that true happiness comes from within, not from the validation of others.”
When asked what her hopes are for the song Zeliha responded, “I hope that it connects with the listener regardless of age, gender, background etc. We all live in this era of a digital world, and we can all be so consumed by it. I hope that it helps people to stop and put their phone down for a moment and acknowledge that you’re beautiful and life is beautiful and don’t need anything outside of yourself to validate that.”
Follow the Excitement
Join the conversation and listen to Zeliha’s new single, Like Me and follow on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify.