The Creative Come Up in partnership with Converse is a dynamic, multifaceted content series supporting and celebrating the achievements of boundary-breaking women of color and individuals who stem from all walks of life and are pursuing their creative passions to the fullest. Through amplifying the voices, journeys and experiences of Black female creatives and gender nonconforming people of color who are defying the status quo to pave one’s own way forward, The Creative Come Up will act as an inspirational mode that provides aspiring creatives with the tools, resources, and education to achieve their dreams and creative pursuits.
Dua Saleh is the Sudanese Musician and Creative Harnessing Their Identity and Personal Experiences to Create Impactful Music
Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dua Saleh is a multifaceted, Sudanese creative and musician paving their own way within the music and entertainment industry. As a recording artist and producer, they’ve used their artistic flair to depict their life story and personal experiences through devising cunning wordplay that translates into powerful music that is both fluid, and freeing. With their thought-provoking lyrics and genre-bending melodies, Saleh interweaves every aspect of their identity through the power of music in order to create meaningful art that uplifts the LGBTQ+ community.
Using music as a mode of expression that represents their relationship with themselves and the world around them, Saleh’s observations surrounding their identity and day-to-day life serve as inspiration for each of their songs. Songwriting for Saleh requires immense self-reflection that can breed both pain and pleasure as it taps into adversities faced in their younger years, personal relationships, and experiences as a trans, non-binary person of color. For Saleh, it’s vital to create music that echoes
the inclusivity they seek in the world, particularly for fellow Sudanese youth that may yearn for acceptance in their environments.
While music is their first love, the gifted creative has made their first foray into acting by recently joining the cast of the hit Netflix series, Sex Education as part of the show’s third season. In the highly-popularized series, Saleh portrays, Cal, the first Black and non-binary character to appear on the show — displaying their creative prowess and staying true to creating art that is a representation of their identity and their community.
As part of the third installment of The Creative Come Up in partnership with Converse, Saleh outlines three crucial lessons for musicians looking to break into the music and entertainment industry. As someone who has stayed true to their identity in the music business, Saleh shares how vocal discovery is crucial to establishing a unique yet sincere identity, how creating their own lane for themselves sets them apart from peers, and how to become a performance artist through using art and music to express care for the audience.
To gain insight into how Dua Saleh has distinguished themselves as a force to be reckoned with from within the music and entertainment space, and hear their advice for young musicians watch the video above.
Below, check out the featured resources for aspiring artists and creatives.
Art Hoe Collective
Black Visions
Black Trans Femmes
in the Arts
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 6
Episode 5
Episode 4
Dana Scruggs
AYA BROWN
Dua Saleh
SANDRINE CHARLES
CRYSTAL ANDERSON
ELIZABETH ACEVEDO
The Creative Come Up in partnership with Converse is a dynamic, multifaceted content series supporting and celebrating the achievements of boundary-breaking women of color and individuals who stem from all walks of life and are pursuing their creative passions to the fullest. Through amplifying the voices, journeys and experiences of Black female creatives and gender nonconforming people of color who are defying the status quo to pave one’s own way forward, The Creative Come Up will act as an inspirational mode that provides aspiring creatives with the tools, resources, and education to achieve their dreams and creative pursuits.
Below, check out the featured resources for aspiring artists and creatives.
Art Hoe Collective
Black Visions
Black Trans Femmes
in the Arts
Episode 6
SANDRINE CHARLES
Episode 5
CRYSTAL ANDERSON
Episode 4
ELIZABETH ACEVEDO
Episode 3
Dua Saleh
Episode 2
aya brown
Episode 1
Dana Scruggs