I had a story-telling mother; she's written novels and…

There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for…

— Ayshay

There are very few pop people I'm interested in working with.

— Ayshay

I'm not a philosopher so why should I provide anyone with the answers? I'm just a musician, I don't have any solutions. All I'm…

— Ayshay

When I work on music, I never think about vocalists. They're the last person I'm making music for.

— Ayshay

This has always been my problem with genres is that they've turned into marketing tools. I've never been a person that allows themselves to…

— Ayshay

There's a big difference between the Arabic and Western scales. One uses quarter tone system and one doesn't. So in order for me to…

— Ayshay

If you've ever seen album covers for Arab female pop stars, it looks like the designer was paid five dollars to make them, and…

— Ayshay

I still think you people need to be curious [in order to absorb the culture]. You need to search Uzbekistani pop music.

— Ayshay

I feel like there is an emphasis against teaching geography in American schools. Americans don't say, "I'm going to Germany." They say, "I'm going…

— Ayshay

I've been exploring gender performativity in the Gulf since I was a teenager. I'm not a gender anthropologist, but I feel like there's an…

— Ayshay

The vast majority of women musicians function under singular names like 'Cher' 'Madonna'. They have to get married almost immediately to preserve their honour.

— Ayshay

The first question [American college kids] asked me was, 'What state is Kuwait in?' They thought Kuwait was in America.

— Ayshay

For instance, members of the elite will never allow their children to become musicians normally, because it's - not embarrassing - but it's not…

— Ayshay

I'm fascinated by evil queens. They're very alluring and repellent at the same time, and I'm into that dichotomy.

— Ayshay

I've never been to China. I only know what the West is telling me about China.

— Ayshay