From a Swedish-Iranian childhood to becoming a protégé of Prince
In short: Before she was a mainstay of cinematic soul, Snoh Aalegra was a teenage pop singer named Sheri. Her journey from the Swedish charts to the mentorship of a musical legend reveals a remarkable evolution of identity and sound.
Born Shahrzad Fooladi in Uppsala, Sweden, to Persian parents, the singer's very name carries deep roots; her birth name is the Persian version of the character Scheherazade. After moving to Enköping and later Stockholm, she began writing music at age nine. Her early career saw her signed to Sony Music Sweden at just 13, though no music was released during that initial period.
In 2009, she re-emerged under the mononym Sheri. This era was marked by notable Swedish chart success, with the single 'Hit and Run' reaching number 12 and 'U Got Me Good' climbing to number 2. By 2010, she released her debut studio album, First Sign, which included a cover of Sade's 1984 classic 'Smooth Operator'.
A pivotal shift occurred in 2013 when she signed to No I.D.'s ARTium Recordings. It was during this era that she adopted her current stage name. The name 'Aalegra' was a personal touch, meaning 'joyful' in Italian—a variation of 'allegra'—chosen to distinguish her from other artists named Snoh. This period also saw her recognized by Prince, who discovered her music and mentored her until his death in 2016.
Today, her 'cinematic soul' style has earned her Grammy nominations, including Best R&B Album for 2021's Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies. Her influence spans generations, drawing from legends like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, while her discography continues to reach global audiences through collaborations and high-profile features.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Snoh Aalegra
- Also: Wikidata — Snoh Aalegra · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/places-snoh-aalegra.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Europe and Russia · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics
