In Sun on Your Back, Diara is a woman shaped by silence—and by sound. Music was her one refuge growing up in a fractured home. Now, as she raises a child in secret and reckons with her past, the songs that once comforted her become mirrors of memory, sorrow, and ultimately—resilience.
This playlist follows Diara’s emotional journey through trauma, motherhood, and personal rebirth. Each track holds a truth she couldn’t always speak aloud.

Listen to the full playlist here:

Spotify – Sun on Your Back

Track list and Reflections

1. Hello – Lionel Richie

A favourite of Diara and Leanne’s, this soulful classic speaks to a longing for connection—often unanswered in Diara’s life.

2. Stuck On You – Lionel Richie

More than just nostalgia. This track reflects Diara’s early emotional attachments, especially the ones that weren’t safe.

3. Wild World – Yusuf / Cat Stevens

Diara is obsessed with Cat Stevens. This track captures the fragile balance of freedom and fear she experiences as she begins to break away.

4. Family Portrait – P!nk

A direct hit to the heart. This song echoes the chaos of Diara’s childhood and the split loyalty she feels between love and truth.

5. Behind The Wall – Live 1988 – Tracy Chapman

A quietly powerful song about abuse and silence. It could be the anthem of Diara’s early years.

6. Love The Way You Lie – Eminem, Rihanna

The toxic cycle of damage and apology. Diara sees this reflected not just in her relationships, but in the patterns that shaped her.

7. Concrete Angel – Martina McBride

A heartbreaking narrative of child abuse. Diara never forgets those who didn’t survive what she did.

8. Because Of You – Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson

Blame, sorrow, and inherited pain. This duet echoes Diara’s struggle to love without fear.

9. Praying – Kesha

A raw cry of survival and spiritual justice. This marks Diara’s turning point—when silence starts to break.

10. Till It Happens To You – Lady Gaga

A song for every woman who has lived through trauma and wasn’t believed. It speaks to the deep isolation of Diara’s truth.

11. Scars To Your Beautiful – Alessia Cara

Affirming and empowering. This track reminds us of the quiet beauty in healing, even when it’s invisible to others.

12. Where Do The Children Play? – Yusuf / Cat Stevens

A wider lens. This track reflects Diara’s growing awareness of the surrounding systems—and her hopes for Farish.

13. Piece by Piece – Kelly Clarkson

An emotional unravelling and rebuilding. Diara sees herself in every line—especially as a mother trying to do better.

14. Angels (From Better Man) – Robbie Williams, Adam Tucker

A soft moment in the storm. A reminder that love still exists, even if it comes from unexpected places.

15. Warrior – Demi Lovato

This is Diara’s anthem. The moment she stops surviving and begins fighting back.

16. The Boy With the Moon and Star – Yusuf / Cat Stevens

This one belongs to Farish. It’s the lullaby Diara never sings out loud—but always carries in her heart.

Music, Memory, and Healing in Fiction

This isn’t just a playlist. It’s the rhythm of a survivor’s voice—rising, cracking, and eventually strengthening. The songs in Sun on Your Back mirror Diara’s inner world and amplify the story’s key themes:

• Domestic violence and its silent legacy
• Complicated mother-daughter dynamics
• The journey of single motherhood
• Healing through memory, culture, and music

Click here to listen on Spotify

Looking for more emotional, socially conscious fiction?

Read the novel: Sun on Your Back – Sun On Your Back eBook : Khan, Naira: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

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