Jana Diab Shares the Cycle of Hurt and Healing That Inspired New Single, ‘Escape Plan’
After signing to Interscope Records last year, 22-year-old pop singer-songwriter Jana Diab just made her label debut with the powerful new single, "Escape Plan."
It all begins as an emotional and melodic, tripped-back track before its story of vulnerability builds and the otherwordly production kicks in. It's about the all-too-familiar feeling of distracting yourself from the hard stuff in life with unhealthy coping mechanisms, making things worse rather than ever truly escaping from them. Its new music video was also shot Jana's hometown of Cairo, Egypt, giving us an intimate glimpse into her love for the city, even as she floats through it without ever truly touching the ground. We've been entranced since the first listen, and we got the chance to chat with Jana to learn all about the track and its inspirations in the interview below.
The Story Behind 'Escape Plan'
Jana Diab: The story behind "Escape Plan" began when I went into the studio to work with my collaborator, Couros Sheibani. We didn't really have any expectations for how the session was going to go. This is roughly how our sessions start: I walk in, we talk, we talk, we keep on talking until we start writing—haha. If we don't hate what we're writing, we carry on until we finish the song. Usually, the more time we spend on the song, the better it gets as our ideas grow. Couros might come up with something amazing, and vice versa, and we feed off each other. Writing "Escape Plan" was exactly like that. He got his guitar out, I started singing some melodies and we built it from there. When we got to the second chorus, we hit a bit of a wall and felt it needed a twist, so we did our thing and added a sick switch-up. We wanted to elevate the song and let it take you to a new emotion without altering the sound so much that it felt like a different song. I am so happy with how it turned out, we both are.
What 'Escape Plan' Means
JD: "Escape Plan" tells my story of when I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of hurt and healing. I used to turn to quick fixes to heal from my pain, only to find myself back to where I started.
With my habit of depending on external distractions to escape my reality, I found myself in a state of constant repair, often referred to as "damage control" or "survival mode." This created a repetitive cycle where I was always rebuilding what was broken instead of focusing on strengthening my foundation to stay stable and supported. Honestly, I hope this song makes people feel understood and heard without judgment. Many can relate to the desire to escape, whether it's through alcohol or relationships. It's okay to be flawed because being human means being fallible.
(Photo credit: Claryn Chong)
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Jana's Favorite Lyric
JD: My favorite lyric from the song is, "The trouble with healing is that it takes time." I really resonate with this because I struggled a lot with the idea of committing to the healing process. It wasn't an easy decision to make as I would have to be honest with myself about both my flaws and my strengths. My inner dialogue often swings between being too harsh and overly forgiving, so finding a balance is crucial. I used to avoid addressing the root problems because the commitment to healing seemed overwhelming because healing takes time.
On 'Escape Plan' Within Her Upcoming Project
JD: I feel like this is one of the more emotional songs on the project. "Escape Plan" is a great intro to the rest of the music, giving a taste of what's coming up. My goal is to stay vulnerable throughout my music, whether the song is slow or more upbeat, and "Escape Plan" shows my listeners that vulnerability can come in many forms. The song is all about self-discovery and trying to break free from personal struggles, which is a big theme on the whole project. It sets the vibe for the journey I'm taking my audience on, diving into different parts of my life and feelings. Each song adds to this story, making the whole project feel like one big experience.
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What's Next
JD: I am so excited for this year and next. I have an album worth of songs I am ready to put out, a few of those planning to come out in these next couple months!
Final Thoughts
JD: Something I am so proud of is the music video for "Escape Plan." We filmed it in Cairo (Egypt), where I'm from. It is important for me to show my listeners that Egypt is filled with so many wonderful, kind-hearted people. My aim, through my videos, is to break down the stereotype that is imposed on the Arab world and capture the true essence and beautiful reality of Egyptian people and culture—a reality that is so often misrepresented, especially in Western media.
For more insights on our favorite new music, click HERE to read our interview with James Reid on his latest single, "Hurt Me Too."