A Global Sensation with Nearly 9 Million Views on TikTok: Salty Licorice Explores Inner Depths in New Single “North Sea Siren (p.78)”
The video for "Yemanya (p.19)" achieved viral success with 8.6 million views on TikTok, as Salty Licorice dedicated the song's proceeds to those affected in Gaza. Now she unveils her new single "North Sea Siren (p.78)" from her forthcoming EP. In "North Sea Siren (p.78)", personal reflection and fiction blend seamlessly in an introspective track that delves into themes of feeling irrelevant, the desire for change, and the longing for a place to call home. The single is set for release on 14 June.
Soha Akile, Salty Licorice. Photo: Alfred Johansson
Salty Licorice's upcoming EP, "The Sunrise Cried," draws inspiration from the dancer, courtesan, and alleged spy Mata Hari, as portrayed in Paulo Coelho's novel The Spy (2016). "North Sea Siren (p.78)" is the second single from the EP, which is due out this autumn.
With her poetic, text-driven compositions and unique soundscapes—melding Arabic melodies with pop, RnB, and electronic influences—Salty Licorice captures the essence of losing oneself and seeking a place in the world. Inspired by Mata Hari’s yearning for renewal and transformation, Salty crafts a new narrative that interweaves fictional and mythological elements with her own personal reflections on the concept of belonging.
"I was captivated by The Spy and read it several times. I visualised the scenes as if they were a film and started to write music that would suit them. The lyrics are written from Mata Hari's perspective. I was intrigued by how fearless she comes off in the book. It gave me the freedom to express myself in ways I normally wouldn't." - Salty Licorice
Soha Akile launched her project anonymously in 2023 to experiment freely with her creative process. Following the success of her debut single, "Lavender Blossom," on Spotify and the positive reception from curious listeners, she decided to continue under the moniker Salty Licorice.
"The story took me to another time and place. I travelled to Paris for the first time to get a sense of what Mata Hari's life might have been like. I fell in love with the city and reflected on my experiences there when writing the lyrics and crafting the soundscape." - Salty Licorice
"North Sea Siren (p.78)" was co-written with Mont Jake and Amanda Kongshaug.
About Soha Akile
Soha Akile is a singer-songwriter and producer from Gothenburg. Her parents came to Sweden as refugees from Palestine and Iraq. Growing up, she was influenced by traditional Arabic music, as well as melodic artists such as The Beatles and Taylor Swift, whose narrative songwriting continues to shape her music and melodic sensibilities.
Her current collaborations include Mont Jake and Jonny Coffer. Previously, she was part of the duo 20 Milk and has worked with artists such as Armin Van Buuren, DubVision, litek & whyjay, Lauren Aquilina, Omar Rudberg, Punctual, Shaé Universe, Julieta, Felix Sandman, and ILIRA. In 2023, she was a finalist on the TV show Songland. That same year, she launched Salty Licorice.
Under Salty Licorice, she experiments with diverse soundscapes and influences, creating alternative pop and RnB inspired by artists such as Caroline Polachek, Imogen Heap, Taylor Swift, Rosalia, FKA Twigs, and Lykke Li. Salty Licorice’s creative process is characterised by her synaesthesia; she perceives colours and patterns when she listens to and creates music.
Achievements
Salty Licorice's single "Yemanya (p.19)" has amassed over 8.6 million views on TikTok and has been featured in 65,000+ TikTok videos. The song is also gaining traction on Instagram and has been streamed over 300,000 times on Spotify.
The duo 20 Milk caught the attention of Charli XCX in 2020, who added their debut single to her Spotify playlist "the motherfucking future."
Her music has been featured on BBC and endorsed by tastemakers such as The Line Of Best Fit, Alfitude, When The Horn Blows, She Makes Music, MTV, and DiscoverNü.
She debuted at No. 2 on Spotify's global Fresh Finds Pop playlist and Fresh Finds, amassing over 1 million listeners.
Links
TikTok
Instagram Sanarya, Salty Licorice
Spotify
Song link
Johanna Widlund Crisman
Public Relations Manager
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