ISSUE #35 MMUSICMAG.COM WHO’S NEXT

roxanna HoMEToWn: Tehran, Iran influEncEs: Julio Iglesias, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Jackson alBuM: Exotica, out now WEBsiTE: roxannamusic.com

A nAtive of tehrAn, roxAnnA hAs fond memories to push on, which gave me strength to pursue my dream with of a childhood spent listening to her idol, olivia newton-John. When all the more determination.” her family immigrated to istanbul, turkey, during the iran-iraq War now based in L.A., roxanna has made strides in realizing in the 1980s, she expanded her horizons. “it opened my heart so that dream. Produced by mark Portmann (Celine dion, much more,” she says. “i was able to catch up with the Western Barbra streisand, Annie Lennox), her debut album, Exotica, combines world.” eventually, roxanna graduated from the nursing program at jazz, spanish and flamenco influences into a rich stew of styles and toronto’s seneca College, where she sang in the school’s choir. themes. “i look at this experience like cooking a meal,” she says. she witnessed firsthand the healing power of music at the bedside “it takes time for everything to come together just right.” the album of her patients. “i could help heal their bodies, but i discovered i also features two covers made popular by Julio iglesias. “Julio is could also help heal their hearts and spirits with my voice,” she says. the most sensual, luxurious, vulnerable sound in the world,” she roxanna’s desire to become an entertainer grew after says. “i want to be the female version, bringing passion back to the sudden death of her mother in early 2013. “her spirit was contemporary music. enough about bad romance and hate and war. the spark that kept the flame of my passion ignited,” she says. i can’t wait to share my songs as a testament that time has a way “her death stopped me in my tracks, but i knew she wanted me of healing everything.”

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