About

SELAH is a German-American rapper and songwriter based in Augsburg, Germany. He writes and performs in English, and his music sits in the space between introspective hip-hop, lo-fi warmth, indie textures and a jazz-influenced atmosphere. It is confident music that still leaves room to breathe — direct in its delivery, thoughtful in its writing.

He has been making music since the age of six. Long before the name SELAH existed, he was performing as Josh Villain, learning in public and building the instincts that shape his work today. The change of name was not a rebrand but a decision about intent. Selah is a word that asks the listener to stop for a moment — to pause, and to listen. That is the standard he holds his own releases to.

The result is songwriting drawn from real life rather than posture: self-belief and self-doubt in the same verse, personal growth, observation, and the details of ordinary days that usually pass unnoticed. Reference points that help place the sound — without claiming to match it — are artists such as Joey Bada$$, Saba and Kota the Friend.

In 2025 SELAH released his debut album SELAH. together with producer Creatis: twelve tracks that move from the opening “Thoughts of a Poet” through “King David” and “Brick by Brick” to a closing “Outro,” holding a single tone across the record. Since then he has kept a steady release rhythm — among them SUN UP, Want 2 Know, FEEL ME, Metrics, IMPORTANT, GIAN TALK and MOTION — alongside collaborations including Devil’s Pride with Alayo. A separate SoundCloud project, Lost Files, collects work outside the official catalogue.

Live, SELAH performs as a solo rapper with a DJ and backing tracks — a setup built for clubs, festivals, bars with curated live programmes, support slots and cultural events. He is based in Augsburg, plays across Germany, the DACH region and Europe, and travels for international bookings.

Everything around the music — artwork, photography, visuals, live presence — is built independently and deliberately. The goal is not reach for its own sake, but a body of work that holds up when someone actually stops to listen.