WHAT IT IS: While her massive 2020 viral hit, “Mad at Disney,” may have introduced millions to the young pop star in the making, Salem Ilese has been steadily honing her craft and developing her sound since she was a child. The 21-year-old has become an expert at crafting unforgettable hooks and catchy, conceptual lyrics, which is apparent across her budding discography, including “(L)only Child,” the first single off her forthcoming debut EP, a coming-of-age anthem full of personality that further highlights Ilese’s lyrical prowess. The pop phenom is currently riding the success of “Fake a Smile,” her latest feature with electronic producer Alan Walker, which has accumulated 50m overall streams to date.
ALBUM: (L)only Child (EP)
RELEASE DATE: 5/21
SINGLE: “(L)only Child”
INTERNET: 7.5m+ monthly Spotify listeners; 170m+ Spotify streams on “Mad at Disney” RTD, featured on Today’s Top Hits for 15+ weeks, cover for Pop Rising playlist; 285k Instagram followers; 90.5m+ combined YouTube video views, 393k subscribers, 20m views on “Mad at Disney”; 2.4m+ TikTok followers, 3m TikToks made with audio
PRESS: Rolling Stone, Stereogum, Marie Claire, Wonderland, MTV Asia, Notion, tmrw, Euphoria, Tiger Beat, Idolator, more
BOOKING: Jbeau Lewis & Jeffery Hasson/UTA
PUBLISHING: Self-published
MANAGEMENT: Jeremy Maciak