Saleka Shyamalan is an American singer, song writer, producer and actress who performs professionally as Saleka. She reached a wider cinema audience playing pop star Lady Raven in Trap, the 2024 thriller directed by her father, M. Night Shyamalan. Crucially, the songs she performs in the film are part of her own musical work, rather than vocals supplied by an unseen singer.
Her career began before that screen appearance, with independent releases, a debut album and songs written for film and television. More recent reporting connects her to “So Alive”, an original song for the forthcoming film Remain, extending her collaboration with cinema beyond Trap.
The family connection explains some of the attention. Understanding her contribution, however, requires looking at the music itself: how it works as recorded material, and how it helps tell a story on screen.
Who Is Saleka Shyamalan?
Saleka is the eldest daughter of M. Night Shyamalan. Her younger sister, filmmaker Ishana Night Shyamalan, has also collaborated with her, directing music videos including “Graffiti”.
Her musical background includes classical piano training from childhood and studies at Brown University. The GRAMMY Museum’s profile describes her education in music production, engineering and theory, alongside influences ranging from R&B to Bollywood and Indian music.
That combination helps explain why songwriting and arrangement are central to her public identity. She entered music with an interest in creating material, not solely interpreting songs written for her.
It also provides context for the different directions in her catalogue. Intimate R&B recordings and songs designed for an arena-sized fictional performance require different choices, even when they come from the same artist.
Her Early Releases and Debut Album
Saleka released her debut single, “Clarity”, in September 2020. Further songs, including “Mr. Incredible” and “Graffiti”, helped establish her recording career before Trap.
Her debut album, Seance, followed on 19 May 2023. In an interview published that day, she discussed its dark imagery, spirituality and relationship themes, alongside the video for “Samsara”.
The album is an important starting point because it presents her outside a major film role. Listeners encounter songs as her own releases, without first needing to understand a character or plot.
Its imagery also shows that the connection between music and unsettling storytelling did not begin with Lady Raven. “Samsara” uses a recurring cycle of relationships within a macabre visual concept, turning familiar romantic frustration into something stranger.
That approach gives her work a recognisable connection to the cinematic worlds surrounding her, while leaving room for a different musical identity.
Songs for Servant and Old
Before Trap, Saleka contributed music to the Apple TV+ series Servant and the film Old. Her song “Remain” appeared in Old, while her Servant material was collected through Songs from the Attic releases.
These projects introduced a particular songwriting challenge: music must make sense within a fictional environment while remaining engaging to someone listening separately.
A song can suggest longing, memory or uncertainty without stating everything a character feels. That makes it especially useful in a thriller, where revealing too much can weaken the tension.
It is also worth separating different musical credits. Writing and performing original songs is not automatically the same job as composing a film’s complete instrumental score. Both shape the audience’s experience, but they involve distinct responsibilities.
Saleka’s screen-related catalogue is best understood through the specific songs and projects credited to her.
Becoming Lady Raven in Trap
In Trap, Josh Hartnett plays a father attending a concert with his daughter when he discovers that the event is part of an operation to catch a serial killer. Saleka plays Lady Raven, the performer whose show supplies the setting for much of the action.
The role required more than appearing briefly as a singer. The concert needed enough substance to feel like an event audiences would attend, while its progression had to work alongside the thriller.
In a joint NPR interview about the film, Saleka discussed writing and producing the 14 tracks used in the project. Her father explained that the script and songs developed in relation to one another.
That process makes the music part of the film’s structure. Performances establish the atmosphere, provide opportunities for movement and distraction, and influence how scenes unfold.
Lady Raven is a fictional celebrity. Saleka’s recordings and performance skills supply the material that makes that celebrity believable.
The Lady Raven Album and Its Key Songs
Lady Raven (Original Music from the Motion Picture Trap) was released on 2 August 2024 through Columbia Records. The 14-track project includes collaborations with Kid Cudi, Russ and Amaarae.
“Release” introduced the soundtrack campaign in June 2024, followed by “Save Me” in July. Together, they offered listeners an entry point into Lady Raven’s musical world before the film arrived.
The titles also suit the dramatic environment: ideas of freedom, danger and rescue can carry romantic meaning in a pop song while acquiring another significance within a thriller.
“Divine”, featuring Kid Cudi, followed on 26 July. His contribution appears in the chorus and bridge, giving the track a distinct collaborative identity within the larger project.
For a listener discovering Saleka through Trap, the useful comparison is between this album and Seance. One was constructed around a fictional concert and narrative requirements; the other introduced her as a recording artist on her own terms.
Neither context should be ignored when judging the songs.
What Is Her Latest Film-Music Project?
On 30 September 2026, Film Music Reporter reported that Saleka and composer James Newton Howard had written “So Alive” for M. Night Shyamalan’s forthcoming supernatural romantic thriller Remain. The report identifies Saleka and Calum Scott as performers, with production by Saleka and Jon Maguire.
The project is distinct from “Remain”, her earlier song for Old. Here, Remain is the film title and “So Alive” is the reported song.
That distinction prevents an easy catalogue mix-up. It also shows a different collaborative arrangement from the Trap album, bringing together a film composer, a pop singer and Saleka’s songwriting and production work.
As a forthcoming-film announcement, it should not be treated as evidence of an already released soundtrack or established audience response.
Family Collaboration and Artistic Independence
Her father’s involvement is an unavoidable part of Saleka’s career. It has provided prominent opportunities and helps explain why her music has repeatedly intersected with film.
Those advantages can be acknowledged alongside the work involved. Writing songs to a script, preparing performances and collaborating with other musicians are identifiable contributions that listeners can assess.
Her collaboration with Ishana adds another dimension. In a 2021 Vogue interview, Saleka described her sister’s familiarity with the earliest versions of her songs and the experiences that informed them.
Family familiarity can make creative communication easier. It does not remove the need for the finished work to connect with an audience.
A fair assessment therefore considers both the access surrounding a project and the specific material an artist delivers.
Where to Start With Her Music
For listeners, Seance offers the clearest introduction to Saleka beyond a screen character. Lady Raven then demonstrates how she adapted her writing to a larger pop-performance setting.
Her official website provides access to the Lady Raven project and her artist channels. The contrast between those releases is more revealing than reducing her career to a famous surname.
Her developing catalogue sits at an interesting intersection: songs that can accompany private listening, and music built to change how a film feels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Saleka Shyamalan?
Saleka Shyamalan is a singer, songwriter, producer and actress who performs as Saleka. She is M. Night Shyamalan’s eldest daughter.
Does Saleka really sing in Trap?
Yes. She performs as Lady Raven and contributed the original songs associated with the character.
Is Lady Raven a real singer?
Lady Raven is a fictional pop star in Trap. Saleka is the real recording artist who portrays her.
What is Saleka’s debut album?
Her debut album is Seance, released on 19 May 2023.
Which artists appear on Lady Raven?
The album includes contributions from Kid Cudi, Russ and Amaarae.
What is Saleka’s connection to Remain?
September 2026 reporting identifies her as a co-writer, co-producer and performer of “So Alive” for the forthcoming film Remain.
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