Eva B – A Voice behind the Veil

An emerging rapper and hip-hop artiste from Lyari, Eva B is the new find of the Coke Studio and has many firsts to her credit.

Eva B is the embodiment of the phrase, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Born into a Baloch family residing in Lyari, Karachi, Eva started making her rap music when she was just 15 years-old. Despite opposition from her family and the expected societal pressure, Eva was determined to pursue her dream of becoming a rapper. Her efforts bore fruit this year when she was featured in Coke Studio Season 14. The track Kana Yaari, which Eva performed alongside Kaifi Khalil and Abdul Wahab Bugti, became Coke Studio’s third most viewed song of the year, and helped launch Eva into the limelight. The rapper also garnered international attention when her song Rozi featured in the path-breaking Disney+ series Ms Marvel.

While the 23 year-old is basking in her new-found fame and success, she knows that this is just the start of her journey.

In an exclusive interview with Bold, Eva talks candidly about the hurdles and challenges she has had to overcome to get to where she is now.

Sania Saeed 2.0

Many hip-hop artistes across the world adopt stage names and monikers which have very little to do with their actual names. Eva is no different.

Her birth name, quite surprisingly, is Sania Saeed, and there’s a fascinating story behind why she was given this name. Eva’s father, Saeed, was a great admirer of renowned Pakistani actress, Sania Saeed. He had decided before Eva was born that if his wife gave birth to a girl he would name her Sania. Hence, it looks like Pakistan now has two famous Sania Saeeds.

When asked about what inspired her to adopt the stage name Eva B, the rapper reveals that she took Eva from Eve (Bibi Hawwa), while the B represents her Baloch identity.

The Eve of Eva B

When asked about how her family reacted when they came to know about her rap music, Eva reveals:

“In the beginning, my brother was completely against my music. Relatives also criticised my choice. Some were of the view that it was not a respectable profession for a woman, while others considered it to be a useless endeavour. I then told my mother how passionate I was about becoming a rapper, and she allowed and encouraged me to pursue music despite my brother’s reluctance. I did leave music behind for two to three years, but I couldn’t keep the musician within me suppressed forever.”

Ultimately, Eva had to seek her brother’s permission if she wanted to continue down her chosen path. Her friends tried to tell him just how talented his sister was, hoping that their influence would soften his stance on the matter. Finally he relented and allowed her to continue with her rap music, but on one condition – Eva would have to wear a face veil whenever she performed so that she wasn’t recognised. Eva agreed, and she now feels grateful that people recognise her because of her voice rather than her appearance.

Eminem, the Inspiration!

Alongside Lyari’s underground rap and hip-hop scene, Eva’s primary influence was Eminem. She came across his trend-setting rap music in the folders of a laptop she had bought from her friend. This ignited Eva’s curiosity, and she began searching online for female rappers, leading her to discover the music of artistes like Queen Latifah. It was at this point that Eva decided to become a professional rapper because, prior to this, she was unsure whether a woman could break into the mainstream rap scene.

Rise to Repute

Eva first gained notice in 2019, when her song Gully Girls, which depicts the prevalence of hip-hop in Lyari, released on the music streaming portal Patari. Eva believes that the song’s ready availability on Patari, and the fact that her music highlights the issues faced by women in Pakistan, led to the popularity of the song.

Call from the Coke Studio

Being approached by Coke Studio came as a great surprise to Eva. For most up-and-coming musicians in Pakistan, Coke Studio represents a platform which can help give them a vast audience nationally and internationally. So, when the producer of Coke Studio Season 14, Xulfi (Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan), rang up Eva and asked her if she wanted to work with him, it was an opportunity the young rapper didn’t have to think twice about.

“I asked about the project and was told that they wanted me to perform a song with Kaifi Khalil,” Eva narrates. “What could my reply have been? Who would miss such an opportunity?”

The process turned out to be a collaborative one. Since Eva writes her own lyrics, she penned the rap section of Kana Yaari, while the composition of the song was done by Kaifi Khalil.

A Rebellious Rapper

Eva believes that there is a natural rebelliousness in her style – be it in her music or her lyrics. She wants to push the boundaries with her music and give voice to those people and grievances which are often ignored.

As far as the content of her music is concerned, like most rappers from Lyari, her lyrics are often centred on the issues plaguing her locality. Naturally, her personal experiences greatly dictate the subjects she chooses to tackle through her music.

What Rap Means for Eva

Eva believes that what societal class one belongs to should not dictate which genre of music one has access to. While she agrees that rap music is often used across the globe to put a spotlight on the issues faced by certain suppressed sections of the society, Eva is of the opinion that rap music should include a variety of subjects and themes.

“Tell me one thing,” she says, “If a rapper gets rich would they leave rap music because it is considered to be the ‘music of the poor’?”

According to Eva, music provides refuge and catharsis for today’s youngsters, irrespective of genre.

Voice with a Veiled Visage

When asked about whether her face veil had ever become a hindrance in her profession, the rapper replies that she loves to wear the veil on screen, stating: “This has become my identity.”

Moreover, when she started her career as a rap artiste, her only inspiration was the underground rap scene of Lyari, where many girls wore a hijab or a niqab. Since then, her look has become synonymous with her name, and she intends to continue with it.

Changing the Image of Lyari

Eva is grateful that the people of Lyari now support her and take pride in her accomplishments. The dynamics of the locality are now changing, and many youngsters are eager to pursue hip-hop music after taking inspiration from figures like Eva. Previously, children in Lyari would say that they wanted to become gangsters when they grew up. Now they say they want to become a rapper, a footballer or a boxer.

Life Away from Music

Currently, Eva is completing her B.A. degree, and is focusing primarily on subjects relating to education, sociology and international relations. Despite global recognition for her musical endeavours, Eva wants to complete her studies and get a job as a teacher. She believes that a teacher must be respected by her students but at the same time, she must have control over her them as well, which she believes she is capable of doing.

“Music will always remain my utmost passion which I can never have enough. If I am unable to get any job after graduation then I will focus solely on my music,” says Eva, the rapper.

What Next?

Eva was already involved in some projects before Coke Studio came calling, and many offers came her way after the success of Kana Yaari. Moreover, her newfound fame has led to a massive increase in her social media following, and this should help her get some major endorsements.

She is also busy finishing her EP (Extended Play), which will be released soon. The EP consists of four to five songs, mostly in the form of rap but with a touch of more conventional singing too. The majority of these songs will be in Urdu but will have a Punjabi and Balochi chorus. All these songs have been written and composed by Eva herself.

Her word to the wise

Eva’s journey is truly an inspiring one, especially for young girls who find it difficult to follow their passions because of various social pressures. For those struggling with this dilemma, Eva has some advice:

“The first step is to convince your family, especially your parents. Talk to them about your interests and why you want to pursue them. I believe that ultimately your parents will understand. My case is an example of this. Today, not only my family and my relatives but millions of people respect and recognise me as Eva B.”