RE-VOLT Magazine Jan 2025 | Expanding Our Listening Habits (Written by Danny Hajjar)

July 16, 2024

I felt eager and excited to share the story I had written for Rolling Stone on Moroccan superstar DYSTINCT after it published in February'24. With the link at hand and copied, I texted just about every person I knew who listened to Arabic music and would appreciate learning more about one of the biggest pop artists in North Africa. DYSTINCT, with over 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify and garnering over 500 million views on YouTube, maintains a strong fanbase in Europe not just with Moroccans and Arabs, but with non-Arabs alike. Yet here in the United States, from where I am currently writing, most Arab diaspora with whom I spoke either had never heard of him or maybe knew one song vaguely. This struck me as odd. An artist with that many streams and views and who has performed globally in front of large audiences was barely known among Arabs in the US. 

I started digging more into other artists similar to DYSTINCT in terms of name recognition and large fanbases—such as rapper ElGrandeToto, pop stars Zouhair Bahaoui and Manal, or even Wegz —and realized more and more that Arab Americans were generally behind on the scenes happening in the Middle East and North Africa or even other diaspora communities outside of the US. 

Yet the artists that they did know—Palestinian singer Elyanna, Egyptian artist Bayou, and Palestinian star Saint Levant, to name a few—were cited to me anecdotally as the biggest artists in the emerging wave of Arabic music. 

Almost every week there is a new story about Elyanna becoming the new “global face” of Arabic pop music, or how Saint Levant ingeniously mixes Arabic, French, and English in his music. The almighty algorithm, tailored to benefit these kinds of artists, provides an added boost on social media and streaming platforms, as these artists have continued to be marketed heavily in the faces of users and listeners. 

And while these artists have certainly tapped into the zeitgeist of Arab America, I can’t help but notice and feel that their overpromotion and overexposure is coming at the detriment of artists in other diaspora communities and, more crucially, artists actually living in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Frankly, the US-based Arab artists do not even have the numbers to back up the claims, the hype, and the coverage that they receive—and some of their music does not feel nearly as inspired or creative as artists who should also be recognized for their music. 

The Arab diaspora in the US tends to be loud, dominating conversations and spaces with their own opinions and projections of their feelings. I am not here to debate the validity of these feelings, as I am someone who also empathizes as an Arab American. However, from my vantage point as a music writer covering the emerging Arabic music scene, what is happening is that Arab American listeners are settling for Western-sounding songs with Arabic lyrics—or even stereotypical and self-orientalizing music like the Mohammed Ramadan, Massari, and Future collaboration “Arabi”. 

And the success among US diaspora by artists like Elyanna, who herself is backed with all of the financial resources of a major label, has created a diverging listening experience and reality between Arabs living in the US and Arabs living in the Middle East and North Africa. Of the people I’ve spoken with who live in the region, Elyanna does not have the same hold as she does in the US. Same with Bayou, Saint Levant, and other US-based Arab artists. Yet they continue to loom so large over the entire emerging Arabic scene, marketed as the faces of this new wave despite not having that impact in the actual region from which they draw their identities, their music, and their language. 

I say all of this not to knock these artists or their musical outputs, but to question why coverage and attention has focused so squarely on them when there are artists who are pushing boundaries creatively in Arabic music but don’t receive the same attention.

 Artists like Dana Hourani, the Lebanese indie singer who has completely reimagined what acoustic and experimental pop can sound like. Artists like Stormy, the Moroccan rapper who seamlessly traverses genres and put out what I would consider my album of the year with ICEBERG. 

There is too much at stake for us to settle. And Arab artists outside of the US cannot continue to live in the shadows of diaspora music that frankly feels unimaginative at times. There needs to be greater recognition, respect, and attention paid to artists in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Arab diaspora in the US have to recognize that Arabic music goes far beyond Elyanna and Saint Levant. There needs to be more homage paid to the OGs who laid the foundation for this scene to thrive—artists like Narcy, Omar Offendum, Flippter, Don Bigg, Shadia Mansour, and so many others. And we, as journalists, have an obligation to be better about capturing the breadth and depth of our creative scene.

FELUKAH: EGYPTIAN FEMCEE SAILING HER WAY THROUGH NEO-SOUL

Felukah (Pic by fotometro__) 

First time I heard "Felukah" was on a record that was produced by "Prodby77" who is an Egyptian producer based in Malaysia  - I was so impressed and I remember feeling also proud. She has a very unique vibe and there was something about her that made me believe in her & also show love and support.

I reached out for an interview, I sent in 17 questions!!! I really appreciate the time she gave me & Re-Volt, this is how the convo went, Show Love & Show support and get to know this incredible artist


BIG HASS: I gotta start with your name "Felukah", I know that your mom helped come up with it, tell us that story and since we talking family. How does your family feel about you doing music/hip-hop? 

Felukah: I was sitting with my mom in our balcony back in Cairo bouncing stage names back and forth when she thought up Felukah. We were looking for a word in Arabic that would be easily pronounced in the West—the philosophy around the name unfolded organically after that. 

Just like a felucca that’s sailing along the river, I want to embody an ebb and flow in my verse. Artistically and psychologically, I choose to stay open and explore where the wind takes me… it’s a very peaceful paradigm that I write in. 
Even if the emotion I’m grappling with is unkind or unpretty, the paradigm itself is rooted in authenticity and nature. 

My family sees the depth in what I do and have come to support my music career. I also work a lot with my older brother who co-produces and mixes my music; my sister helps manage me. We’re floating a very homegrown boat. 

felucca

BIG HASS: I love your poetry voice if that makes sense. You have a unique way of expressing words. You are from Egypt, but moved to the USA in 2017. I really am interested to know, If you didn't move there, would you be able to still pursue music in Egypt? 

Felukah: Language is my first love. It was my high school English teacher who introduced me to the power of poetry; it damn near unlocks pockets of your consciousness. I’ve been consistently writing poetry since the 9th grade, partially because of her. Only when I moved to New York City did that poetry evolve into rap music. I was around a lot of hip hop and was discovering my own sense of self in the freedom of a city with close to zero judgement. What’s mad cool is going back to Egypt and placing myself in the scene there, with the same identity and material that I’ve built in NY.

BIG HASS: Your track "Purple Philosophy" released in 2018, is one of my personal fav, love the references and the words, flow you used... can you take us through the process of you writing that and what is the sort of feedback you been getting on this specific song? 

Felukah: That’s crazy that your favorite track is off my first project! I don’t pride myself too much on the material in Battery Acid, I was just familiarizing myself with the idea of writing to record. “Purple Philosophy” does stand out to me however, it’s the first track I ever put out. I still work within the same framework; purple philosophy like I’mma be deepest shade of blue and still get loud as f*** I never wanted to be cool. It’s essentially the idea of welcoming highs and lows as part of a greater rhythm. I also shoutout Faten Hamama and Fairuz, who are two very important women in history. I got good feedback on the song when I dropped it on Soundcloud and that pushed me to keep creating.

 


BIG HASS: Correct me if Im wrong, you do have 1 EP + 2 Albums, How do you see you have evolved from 2018 till now? 

Felukah: I consider Citadel my first album and fully conceptualized project. I started getting closer to my sound in the Yansoon EP but hadn’t yet unlocked any signature flows or motifs. The most exciting thing about making music for me is the process and evolution of it all. To have grown through the manifestation of a feeling or an idea - that’s the trippiest, most beautiful thing. 

BIG HASS: Like i said, i love your story telling approach, I also respect and love the fact that you don't wana assign a certain genre to your music. How did that come about? 

Felukah: Because you're right, people tend to always put artists or even other people in a "BOX" and Label them, so being Label-Free is something I am totally with, how did you reach that conclusion? As a poet (and also as an air sign), I guess I see an openness and fluidity to things. We wake up every day and enter systems that perpetuate singularity and a digestibility of sorts, so we end up trapping ourselves under labels. Artists I admire like Solange, Noname, and Tyler, the Creator toy with genre just enough to keep their sounds fresh while maintaining the same essence. I believe in hip hop, I embody neo-soul and my mind works like jazz. Nurturing these different musical callings is essential to me.

Felukah (Pic by Fotometro)

BIG HASS: Name some of the artists you are currently listening to/getting inspiration from? 

Felukah: I’ve been spinning a lot of Tierra Whack and Joey Bada$$, while also taking inspiration from regional artists like Shabjdeed, DAM, and Egypt’s own Abyusif. 
My pallet changes on an almost weekly basis, but constants like Common and Erykah Badu can be found in almost every playlist I make. 

BIG HASS: We have an amazing Arabic Rap scene, but at the same time, there is a HUGE lack of women representation. What are your thoughts on that? and maybe even discuss why do you think it is the case? Is it traditions/culture? Is it that Hip-Hop is not really understood in Arabia...? Thoughts.. 

Felukah: Yes there is a severe lack of female energy in the Arabic rap game right now, but that’s destined to change. It may have been seen as taboo or risqué to be a female rapper at some point but embedded in our culture is storytelling and folklore. If you look at it that way, we were born with material for the mic. I think having more women in the industry in Egypt and surrounding Arab countries will definitely enhance our collective sound emanating to the rest of the world. 

BIG HASS: When you get on the mic in live events/open mics and you say you're from Egypt. How does the crowd usually react if they found out? and what has been the most amazing feedback you ever got? 

Felukah: People in the audience usually go through three phases of shock when the news first hits that I’m from Egypt. First it’s the fantasy built around the land, then it’s the fact that I’m rapping in English, then it’s the realization that I’m actually switching between English and Arabic. I like to keep people on their toes and I plan to incorporate more languages in the future. Someone once told me they’re learning Arabic on Duolingo to be able to understand my lyrics. That took me to the moon in my feels. 

BIG HASS: In terms of collaborations, what's your latest collabos, future ones, who do you wana collaborate with? Love that collabo with "Prodby77", maybe tell us how did that come about? 

Felukah: Most recently I was featured on Dena Anu$ka’s track “Caught in the Moment,” and am currently working on a record with Mvrs and another with Timmy the Nomad. Dig all their sounds a lot. I also have crazy material with rapper/producer Tuyme that we haven’t pushed yet. And that collab with 77 and Mo Sella was fire. Heard the beat and I fell right into it. “Kemia” was the only way to describe that feeling, having chemistry with the beat, and we ended up using that as the title. Dream collabs include Little Simz and Sampa the Great. 

BIG HASS: Your latest Album "Citadel" is incredible. Been listening to it! and Im so proud of you! How long did the album take to finalize? Your track "Ask The Birds In Cairo" Ft MC BolBol is super dope as well. love the collabo, love the English/Arabic, love the theme... + Tell us about the themes you discuss in this album? 

Felukah: Thank you! I started working on the album in December 2019 and decided to release it in July; many told me to take more time and get better mixing/mastering done. While I do agree that the project could still use some fine-tuning and potential remastering, it marked my evolution at that point and opened doors to multiple collaborations thereafter. Producers got a sense of what I was going for and now we can make moves in a far more intentional and grassroots fashion. As hinted at in the track “Ask the Birds in Cairo,” the entire concept behind Citadel rests on a notion of growing, building and taking true flight. The intro to the tape is a literal blueprint that introduces different themes of general elevation that the rest of the tracks highlight. Women’s empowerment, cultural representation and a lowkey profound silliness are themes I value deeply and definitely focused on in the album.

BIG HASS: What would you say is the most "Underrated" song you ever did? (A song that you personally thought it would do better, but it didnt)?
Felukah: Honestly “Whereto From Here” is my most underrated song. Verse is so fast and the beat is mad groovy, shoutout Rageh for hooking me up. I like my faster flows that incorporate lazy hazy hooks and I hope people catch onto that pattern soon. 

BIG HASS: Who are some of your favorite Arabic Female Musicians at the moment? 

Felukah: A lot of female talent on the rise. Dena Anu$ka just put out a wavy EP called Honey and Cream. Lella Fadda, Kilma and Peri are all about to launch. I’ve been blessed to perpetually find myself around divine, creative female energy. I can’t wait to work with each of them and inspire more women to hit the studio. 

BIG HASS:The fusion in your music is natural. One can see that, what has been the most challenging thing you have faced artistically? 

Felukah: I do like fusing languages, genres and concepts in my work. It actually hasn’t been challenging from a production standpoint; I think and feel in this way so I’m just staying true to my process. The difficulty might be in how people receive the material.. But I don’t make music for streams or followers. I drop bars and then see where they circulate.

BIG HASS: Are you getting support from Egyptian Media? If so, please shout them out because we want to highlight them too

Felukah: It’s cool to see independent production companies raising the heat in Egypt. I worked with DROOGS on the visual for “Ask the Birds in Cairo” and sat with them for a dope interview session afterwards. More recently I collaborated with Vybz to create this next project. They’ve also been the coolest team -- very hard working.

BIG HASS: What are you currently working on? Would love to see you in Dubai very soon performing maybe for THE BEAT DXB!!!? 

Felukah: 2020 starts this month for me. My first trap song “The Daughter” comes out on Monday (10th Feb'20) alongside a music video directed by the brilliant Seif Omar. I’m also cooking up an EP and outlining a collection of vignettes/short fiction for a book. I want to keep my place in literature in the written word. Books and records for the win. I’m trying to come through to Dubai mad soon! 

BIG HASS: Before I let you go, I need you to tell of few names we need to check in the Cairo Music Scene. Who you into? And If people can take ONE THING only from your music, what would it be? 

Felukah:Definitely peep Wegz and Molotof. We also have a scene for progressive rock, led by the band Sublunary. Kilma has an experimental sound and is definitely one to check out. If there’s one thing I want people to take from my music it’s the beauty of lyricism. I want to be remembered as a thinker and a poet. Nas reacts never calmy on a hype track - but we might. I’m getting spiritual on trap beats and switching flows while staying lo-fi. I’m learning the universe through verse of my own and I’m psyched to have people on this journey with me.

BIG HASS: Any Last words, Any Shout Outs, Please Go! 

Felukah: Shoutout to all the women artists in the MENA region who are searching for a reason to release their music, share their visual art or pursue their creative passions. Believe in your seat at this table. The world is listening.

Follow Felukah & Show Love

SUDANESE PRODUCER SAMMANY GIVES SUDAN REVOLUTION A MELODY ...

Sudanese Producer SAMMANY once again proves that music combined with true talk from the heart results in something people would share & resonate with. Sudan is going through a revolutionary times at the moment with corruption and the politics being "challenged" which is a good thing I believe.. Music once again proves its more powerful, the government should obey the people always...

Re-Volt Chats with Omani/American Singer/Songwriter EMAAN ZADJALI

Big Hass: Your Half Omani/Half American, incredible blend of cultures right there. How did you get into music and in what way does that blend is reflected in/affected your music?

Emaan Zadjali: I’ve been doing music for as long as I can remember. My parents told me that when I was about three years old, I watched The Wizard of Oz a lot. We had an old piano in the house and one day they heard me play the melody to Somewhere Over The Rainbow by ear. 

I was born in the US but for the majority of my life, I grew up in Oman. Naturally, I always heard Arabic music around me, and I feel that it has a big influence as to how I sing and play today. 

BH: As someone who pushed/supported the music scene in Saudi Arabia. I seen a lot of female artists "back away" from performing/posting online due to certain "Traditions" in the country that sadly didn't allow them to. I am not sure how the situation in Oman is, but in what way were you able to break that and get a following online especially on Instagram?

EZ: I didn’t really think much of it at the time, as far as tradition goes. My friend push me to make an Instagram account and post videos of me singing. At this point I wasn’t publicly performing yet, I was still getting used to people reacting to my videos. Trying to figure out if what I was doing was actually good or not. 
Two months later after making a Instagram account I’ve finally decided to perform live at Love At First Bite (a restaurant in Oman) for a charity event. Only a few people recognize me from my Instagram account, but after that night, everything changed. 
Their responses were all so positive and welcoming! I had girls come up to me saying “Thank you for doing this for us”. That really shocked me and stuck with me till this day. That’s probably the moment I knew I had to keep performing. I had to keep spreading the word, showing people that I’m not afraid to show my face or reveal my family name.

I’ve been doing very well ever since, and thankfully the reactions are still very positive and supportive. 

BH: Take me through the Music scene in Oman. How's it like? who do you enjoy listening to? Who are the communities/initiative supporting the local artists in Oman?

EZ: The music scene in Oman is definitely growing. Local talents have been using Open Mic events to show off their skills for the longest time. Just Jams for example, a successful local company that provide pop-up open mic nights for the public to showcase their talents! 
They also provide poetry nights as well for the talented poets out there! 
Alongside with that, we also have Independent Omani Artists with a variety of genres who have released music on all platforms such as myself and:
Adam Nabeel 
Nile
MoonsSalah
Ghazi Balucci
Chase
Akram
WNDRSS 

The variety of genres that these artists portray are on a wide spectrum. From RnB to Hip-Hop, to alternative rock to Folk/singer songwriter and many more. 

BH: Interested to know more about the plans you have for your Original music. With the calibre of voice you have, I predict big things! Tell me more about "Rolling Stone" - what is it about? + What is your song writing process? 

EZ: I’m still currently trying to find my style/sound. I’ve been exploring the contemporary R&B sound, as well as some new age funk. So far, my originals I’ve been working on are more on the Contemporary R&B side (Daniel Caesar/Frank Ocean inspired). However, on a side note, I’m also going to be featured on an upcoming Metal EP as well as a LoFi EP real soon (keep an eye out for them, you’re not going to want to miss it). So I guess you could say I’m very open to change and trying out new things!

Rolling Stone was a rendition of The Weeknd’s song “Rolling Stone”, I changed the lyrics to talk about the society I grew up around. This song has such a significant and personal meaning to me. It’s about how I never saw a substantial change in the way everyone viewed each other. Everyone’s too scared about revealing their family name and jeopardizing their reputation, yet they aren’t afraid to sit behind screens and critique the people who actually want to take that first step to being something/someone different and important. “Get on this Rolling Stone” meaning , ‘lets get a move on’ we gotta see a change in this society, people! 
If nobody’s gonna take the initiative, then at least support me and my dream to make this change in our community; “I just wanna hear you say, I got you."


BH: Tell me about "Cruise Control" for Ziad Gadou that deatured you & Ghazi Al Balucci - It was produced by you? You getting into production as well? Any inspirations when it comes to producers out there? 

EZ: Cruise Control was such an interesting project to produce and be featured on. The brains behind it all AKA Ziad, an amazingly talented poet from Egypt, had the idea of incorporating music and spoken word together in a song and consist of a powerful message. Immediately I was on board and put myself into the role of The Producer (with little to 0 knowledge on producing). I took this opportunity to challenge myself and break boundaries to create something amazing.

BH: What would you say is your biggest challenge so far?

EZ: My biggest challenge at the moment is coming up with a concept for an album I’m putting together. I would call myself a perfectionist when it comes to my music. I always want there to be a significant meaning to my songs and have a message that can be relatable to most people. I would hope my music would connect with people on a personal level.

BH:  Do Local artists in Oman get Radio Play? & is it as important as before?

EZ: This doesn’t happen enough. Local artists have been featured on Radio Talkshows before and have performed live on air, but not enough local artists have their music properly recorded or distributed online. It’s very valuable for artists to be able to have a platform like the radio to exhibit their music. We definitely need more stations to support their local artists in Oman!

BH: Would you say that because of your ability to sing in "Arabic" that you were able to tap more to the Omani community (Mass wise)? & will we see you perform in Arabic more?

EZ: Oh definitely! The video of me singing “Helwa Oman” is how a lot of Omanis found out about me. I never thought it was going to go viral the way it did. It was National Day and so I figured it was fit to sing something in Arabic for the occasion. I gained 1000 followers a day for 6 days straight. It was wild. 

However, I don’t see myself performing in Arabic at all times. I would like to incorporate the language into my music, but I don’t think I could strictly sing in Arabic. 

BH: What can we find in Emaan's MP3 player? What kinda of artists you listen to? Who inspires you? 

EZ: Whole lot of Frank Ocean. His writing style is inspiring, how he uses metaphorical lyrics and utilizes them so tastefully. You’d also find quite a lot of Drake, Jorja Smith, Kendrick Lamar, The (old) Weeknd, Sabrina Claudio, 6LACK, Billie Eilish, NAO, SiR. I could go on and on. 

I’d say my biggest inspiration is Daniel Caeser, HER and Frank Ocean. A lot of my new music I’m working on is very inspired by those three. 

BH:  I gotta ask you about the music scene in Arabia/Middle East/GCC , who do you follow? who do you like? 

EZ: I’m a huge fan of Adam Nabeel. He is one of the main reasons I started getting into producing! You also have other female artists like Shébani and Rose Gold that I look up to as well. Mvrs, Moh Flow, Majeed all have similar styles and I vibe with all of them! Their success and their passion for making music motivates me on a whole other level. They’re the ones that make me believe I can really make it in the GCC.

BH: Finally, What's your dream?
Finish college at Berklee, get that degree, and hopefully come back to Oman to help build the music scene! Being able to make a difference and still be doing something I love, that’s the dream.

EZ: Any lats words for Re-Volt Blog...
Go check me out on Instagram, Youtube, Soundcloud, Twitter! @emaanzadjali

You can find my music on all platforms under EMAAN. Go and show some love!

THE BEAT DXB Vol ii // ANNOUNCED // 9 NOV'18

THE BEAT is a series of events curated by Saudi radio host and blogger Big Hass, all in the aim to support local and regional rising music artists by creating opportunities for them to perform live. 

What started as an underground event in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in 2013 has now been marked by the DXB stamp, as Big Hass tries to nourish the independent music scene through this kind of live events. 

It comes as no surprise that the first edition of the Beat DXB saw the light in March 2018, in The Flipside, the only vinyl store in the UAE, which resonates with Big Hass’ constant endorsement for the real and authentic. His passion and determination has helped bring back this event for a ​second edition​​, in ​The Fridge Warehouse​​, one of Dubai’s most thriving art hubs. 

The main lineup will include rising female sensations Syrian singer/songwriter ​Ghaliaa​​, Iraqi RnB/Pop singer/songwriter ​Shébani​​ and Emirati-Honduran chilling voice of ​Fafa​​. The balance is scored by the performance of Saudi rapper ​Molham​​ and Sudanese visionary and lyricist ​249TooDope​​. 

Also a special segment will be dedicated to rappers (Moh Flow, KC Hamada, TAC & KAFV) showcasing their skills over beats provided by Drummer ​Colin​​ LIVE. 

Furthermore, Saudi female singer Roya, who was part of the first edition of the BEAT in Jeddah will be the opening act. 

The event will occur on ​Friday, November 9th 2018 
Event is sponsored by G-Shock Middle-East 

Doors will open at 7:00 PM and the show will start at 8:00 PM. 

** Music set by Dj Sizer 
Tickets are available online and the door at 20 AED/Person

MADD : Moroccan Trap !

RAJA KUMARI ALWAYS REPPIN' HER CULTURE || RELEASES VIDEO FOR " I DID IT"

Raja Kumari 

So Authentic, So Real and always reppin' her culture.
Check out the video for Raja Kumari's "I Did It" 

LOVE IT !!! CHECK IT OUT BELOW

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ALEKSANDRA KRSTIC

It didn't take a lot of time for me to become a big fan of this artist, her vibe and humbleness are just incredible. She has always shown support to artists in Dubai and I believe its our turn to show love to one of most talented musicians in this region. I had a quick Q&A with Aleks who just dropped her new solo song exclusively on Anghami. 

Have a good read ;)

Big Hass :You're an incredible keyboardist and vocalist. How did it all start for you? 

Aleksandra: It all started when my parents took me to music school at the age of 5 after discovering that I was born with perfect pitch. It was at the time of the civil war in former Yugoslavia so no one was really buying pianos then but my parents had some savings and supported my love for music. My first piano was a beautiful 100 year old vintage upright we got from a family that was emigrating because of the war. I studied music for another 20 years or so after that. And during that same time, since the age of 12, 

I was singing and playing in different bands and working with different music producers and touring with them around Europe.

BH: How has it been working with Hamdan Al-Abri? 

Aleks: He’s just brilliant! I have never met anyone like Hamdan. He has been a constant inspiration. He's a pioneer, groundbreaking and super brave with everything he's done, always a step ahead. I love the way he treats music and artistry with so much respect. He is so incredibly talented and hard working - his music is before everything else and on the top of all that he's so humble. So much love and respect for him.

BH: You just dropped a NEW solo song produced by "Rayan" Too Close To The Sun EXCLUSIVELY on Anghami. How did the track evolve? and how is it working with one of the hottest producers in town? 

Aleks: Ohhhh, I love working with Bailouni! For me, his studio is a little happy place i always love going back to. Growing up an artist I always felt a bit like an outsider, felt like I'm not always fully understood. Amazing thing about Bailouni is that he understands my ideas and visions and I feel like I can express myself fully without being judged - and thats something I highly value. We work really well together. He’s so quick, talented and knowledgeable. And he’s just getting better and better! 

With ‘Too Close To The Sun’ I just came to the studio with the piano lick I recorded on my voice messages and we loved the way how piano sounded detuned and slightly distorted. I played it again and we tried recreating the sound and while I was trying to figure what pads to play - Bailouni already created the magic. Then I just went in and laid down some vocals. We actually kept a lot of the original vocal takes.

BH: You are inspired by legends like ella fitzgerald, billie holiday, aretha franklin, how important is it for the young generation to also study those greats? 

Aleks: I think the fact that many great artists are long gone and that we still listen to their music says a lot about the longevity of the music. I don't believe in theory that old music is better and that whatever we are listening to today is bad - on the contrary - but I think it’s great to know the history so you can make the future better. I apply that in every sphere of life.

BH: What are your thoughts on the Dubai Music Scene?

Aleks: The first time I came to Dubai (almost 6 years ago) and started checking out the music clubs and bars I was pretty disappointed by the music being played. Everywhere I went I heard the same Top 40 music, sometimes even in the same order :) Living in Europe - I was used to going to live music clubs, techno clubs, hip-hip clubs or just any kind of club that played ‘underground’ or ‘alternative’ music, so places where there was some kind of subculture. It took me a while to find different venues and likeminded people, I started to realize that there is some alternative scene here. From that point on things changed rapidly! 

New artists started popping up and there are many great ones. I figured that I can also create something that is going to maybe influence someone else in the future. Thats the great thing about this place, that we all can be pioneers in something and there is a whole new generation of young, bold and beautifully creative people who grew up on the art scene over here. If they are the epitome of things to come - then the future looks and sounds good.

BH: What does live performance mean to you? 

Aleks:  I've been performing since I was 8 years old so it’s pretty much second nature to me. I feel way more natural expressing myself through live performance and music. Performing live means you summoning a wide range of emotions, personalities and traits. I always try to leave a piece of my heart on stage. The biggest compliment for me is when someone says that my music sounds genuine or it touched someone in some way.

BH: Tell us something not a lot of people know about you..?

Aleks: I believe in equality, freedom of mind and speech. I love Wes Anderson’s and Wong Kar-wai’s movies. I studied video art and 3D animation for a while, and if I wasn't a musician I would probably be a Graphic Designer or a contemporary dancer :)

BH: Any last words to Re-Volt blog? 

Aleks: Thanks a lot for all the love and support Big Hass, you're such a legend! Keep up with great work promoting and helping artists. We are all lucky to have you in our region, helping us get heard. I have nothing but love and respect for you.

Listen to the track Aleks just released on Anghami below

Sudan Archives - Come Meh Way || Bless from SUDAN !

Shébani releases new single "I Wana Know" Produced by RAYAN

Shébani

Dubai based Iraqi singer/songwriter Shébani just released her latest single entitled "I Wana Know" produced by RAYAN.

I love how Shébani keeps evolving with every single she puts out. There aren't many Arab female singers doing what she's doing, so I make sure I show support whenever I can. She has great talent & is also a great soul.

What I love about this song is the fact that she's not afraid to express herself, she's trying different topics and also diversifying her crowd. 
RAYAN came through as usual with the production, it's at a very high calibre. 

Check out the single below, out now on Anghami.

One On One with Doha-Based Egyptian rapper MVRS (Interview)

When I first heard Doha based, Egyptian rapper MVRS spit, I was impressed with his vibe and he also proved that there are a lot of Arab rappers out there that really go for that international sound and for me this is where I come in & try to push these artists to reach their goals. At the end of the day, Hip-Hop is a self expression art-form and language should not be a barrier. For Arab rappers, Hip-Hop is still its own universal language, whether the artists decide ti rely on Arabic lyricism or the familiar western flair. 

Had a one on one talk with him. See the full interview below and support this brother.

Shout out to all my brothers in Doha:
ElNasser who is also Egyptian and does Arabic rap and is someone whose always been supporting re-volt

MVRS

Tell Re-Volt how you first got into Hip-Hop?
It was the self-expression side of hip-hop that really got me into it. The first song I heard was When I’m Gone by Eminem. I was blown away by the magnitude of emotion conveyed in just three/four minutes.
I had a Poetry chapter in English class at the time and we were tasked with writing a poem about a topic of our choice. Each student had to recite the poem in front of the entire class. I couldn’t. My English was too bad at the time. The teacher recites my poem instead. He bursts into tears and tells me that it was the most powerful thing he had read from a student in years.
I believe that these two things coinciding is what drove me to add instrumentals to my words and give this rhythm & poetry thing a shot.

How did the name "MVRS" come about?
It was quite a journey getting to MVRS. I started rapping by the name Aymar which was just an easier way to spell/pronounce my name to those who couldn’t speak Arabic. Fast forward years later, an old friend made a pun with last half of my actual name; AmMar; that’s when Mars was born. 
The more I grew, the more I realized how the name Mars as is, would cause issues in terms of my online presence. When you’d google Mars, all you’d get on the first page are planet images. I needed to separate my self to stand out, and mvrs was the result. 

Tell us about the Hip-Hop scene in Doha.. how's that like?
Qatar's Hip-hop scene has shown tremendous growth over the past 10 years, but it has the potential to do much more. It is still relatively pre-mature if you compare it to some of the regional or international scenes. It does however have artists passionately pursuing all four elements of the genre; Rapping, Djing, Graffiti Writing, and B-boying.
When I started my journey as an artist, I thought I was the only one doing it. A few years later I was happily startled when I’ve come to discover fellow artists such as Trak (who was a little older in the scene), Y-Kay (who is now based in Dubai), and a few other ones. I was quick to approach them to collaborate. 
Around 2012 we put out a 25-track album titled Beleaf; a collaborative project between myself and three other rappers. That was the birth of Hip Hop as a scene in Doha. A group of artists collectively collaborating to express themselves. Nothing had come out of the city with that much reach at the time. It was the first time music from the city had made it to local radio stations. It was a blessing.
As an artist who was born and raised in Doha, I feel a strong and deep connection to its hip-hop scene, specifically the rapping element. I feel like it grew with me. Every new milestone for me, was and still is a new milestone for us as a scene. 
Hence why I feel like I have this urge of responsibility to pave the way for the next generation. There’s a new wave of dope younger rappers, singers, and producers, some of which, I’m still discovering. I have spent the last year and a bit trying to take the Doha scene beyond the city and show the world that we have artists that can make music up to par with your favorite international artists; a fine example here is ROSEGOLD.

How does it work with you culturally.. where is home for you? Is it Doha & if so why?
I’ve always had a tough time answering this question since I was a child. It’s a lifetime identity crisis... 
By blood and passport, I am Egyptian. My roots are from there. I feel a connection to its history and heritage. On the other hand, I was born and raised in Doha, Qatar. I’ve lived my entire life here. 
But can anyone really say they’re from one place nowadays? We live in the age of globalized societies. We’re a generation of 3rd Culture Kids. We strongly belong to bits and pieces from different places to the point where we sometimes feel like we don’t belong at all. 

What are your thoughts on Hip-Hop generally nowadays? and who are some of your favorite rappers?
I think Hip-Hop is at it’s prime right now. It’s the most listened-to genre in the world according to an analysis done by Spotify and as far as numbers are concerned, It’s the number one selling genre in the U.S.  That would technically make Rap, the new “Pop” or popular music.
Hip-Hop has had various phases in the past where it was infatuated with a certain mood. Artists who did anything away from that mood, would not be successful. Nowadays, it has become so versatile in its flavors. Whether you’re just trying to jam to a melody and have a good time, or looking for a more conscious sound with a real message; there’s someone out there doing just that and a few others who’ve merged the two together.
While you can catch me a lot of the times, in the mood for some straight up bars; I personally strongly appreciate melody in music. Prime examples of that, are rappers like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Chance the Rapper, and more recently Joey Bada$$ with his very last album.

A personal favorite of mine is Isaiah Rashad with his very effortless and trill vibes. I also really appreciate versatile artists like Tory Lanez who seems to be able to do it all. Sing, rap, harmonize; you name it. 
Other artists that you’d find in my playlists right now are Post Malone, PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, Bryson Tiller, Belly, Travis Scott and even the occasional Migos/Gucci Mane track haha. 


You're taking part in the Emerging Talent Competition organized by Yasalam for this year. Sadly, you weren't able to make it to Dubai and experience the workshops; but tell us about the experience and what would it mean to you if you go to the 2nd round?
It’s been actually quite a journey with Yasalam. The first time I touched base with them was ETC 2015. However, at the time, the competition wasn’t open for artists outside of the UAE. In 2016, they approached me and the homie Trak to perform at one of the smaller venues in the festival. We thought it was amazing that artists from Qatar were asked to perform outside of the city.
This year, they opened up the competition to artists outside the UAE, and it’s a blessing to have been shortlisted. 
I really wish I was able to make it to the workshops and I am sure it would’ve been a wonderful experience meeting all those artists and industry networks. But it is what it is. I still have a strong feeling that I will make it to the 2nd round, even with all the odds against us. I’ve had dreams of me sharing the stage with Kendrick Lamar when I was younger. It would be an unimaginable experience and it might just happen this year.

"Out Of Bounds" Album by MVRS

"Out Of Bounds" is an album that you dropped about 5 months ago. How's the feedback? and what sort of messages you got on the album?
Out of Bounds was the album that made my sound reach beyond the city. Since I released it incrementally, song by song, over the span of a whole year; it was a growth experience for me. With every song released, the feedback was better and the reach was even bigger. 
It’s the national anthem to my identity. It tells my side of the story as a 3rd culture kid, who at his highest, feels like he belongs everywhere, and at his lowest, feels like he belongs nowhere. 

Do you feel pressured that you're an Arab yet you don't rap in Arabic?
Not at all. I am very aware of the fact that my music could reach a much broader audience had I rapped in Arabic. But I started making music simply for myself to listen to and enjoy. Not to sound narcissistic haha; but I am my biggest fan. That will always be key for me; making music that I enjoy listening to.
Music was not a big part of my life growing up. My parents never cared much for music. So, unlike many of my Arab friends,  I never got exposed to the Arabic side of it. That even includes classics like Fairuz, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Umm Kulthum. 
I went straight into Hip-Hop; more specifically American Hip-Hop, which I was exposed to by my friends in middle school. I obsessed a little I won’t lie, and since then I wanted to reach that level. I wanted to take my story to the world, and it’s much harder to do so if you’re rapping in any language other than English.
That being said; my music is a reflection of self, so you’ll always catch me throwing in Arabic phrases which I use on daily bases. My debut album was titled “Theeb” which is a term that has been used in the Arab culture to describe loyalty, bravery, and wittiness.

Who are some of your favorite rappers in the region?
Oh, man.. you really boxed me in with the word “rapper”, well; 

•   The HRMNY camp is one of my favorite sounds from the region. The way Moh Flow, Majeed, and AY make moves is truly inspiring. 

• I see Kshr, the Arab J. Cole, also doing his thing haha; we’re cooking something up together soon so look out for that! 

• I also think RoTation from Sudan is really dope. 

• Confait from Bahrain is also one of my personal favorites in the region. I feel like he needs to be more heard. 

• Mack is also mad talent and I am looking forward to his next release. 
• Y-Kay who’s psychotic with the pen and dope with the visuals
• Menon has also been killing it with his last few releases.
• N1yah, who came a very long way since the first time I’ve heard her back in 2015. Word is she can really sing, so I’m looking forward to hear more of that.
• Last but not least, the homie Trak. I specifically respect his mad work ethic and dedication to the craft.
• I have also been mildly tapping into the Arabic rap side with artists like Flippter, Slow Mo, and Moayad Al Naefaie.

What is your dream? 
My dream is to become an icon. An influential sound. I want to tell my story to the world and inspire younger artists to the do the same. I want to give opportunities I didn’t have, to any person pursuing a passion of theirs; whatever it may be. 
I want to meet the greats of my generation and surpass them. I have this recurring vision of me being in the studio with Kendrick Lamar, telling him how “I think this adlib isn’t working here” haha.

You have been featured on many of the biggest blogs/sites for Hip-Hop in the US. Is the feedback coming from the US different than the ones you getting from the Arab region?
Surprisingly, I’ve received similar feedback on both sides as far as constructive criticism is concerned. Both sides seem to stress on very similar highlights, be it negative or positive.
Culturally, however, the feedback will inevitably be different. In the US, you’re seen as an “outsider looking in”. In the Arab region, you’re “on the inside looking out.” It’s a very interesting dynamic.
That being said; I’ve been very proud of the growing culture in the regional scene. Artists are pushing each other up from across the region and it only shows how music can truly break borders. 

What're the future plans for MVRS?
As far as the near future; just more music man. I always tell artists that consistency is key to any sort of artistic growth. I’ve been very proud of how my sound progressed so far and I know there’s so much more room for growth.
I also plan to collaborate with a lot of the artists I mentioned previously. I really think collabs bring out the best of each artist and give the fans a fresh sound. 

As you know, the Middle East is a political "spaghetti", a lot of issues always going on. Do you ever address politics in your music & if no, why not?
On a personal level, I have zero interest in politics. I don’t indulge much in it in actual conversation, so you’ll rarely catch me talking about it in my music. 
I write on a very personal level. As if I am having a conversation with the listener. I am more interested in society and its affairs. These are topics we have much more control over than politics. These are things a person can truly change if they are inspired by my music and my story.

Tell Re-Volt something not a lot of people know about you
Hip-Hop taught me English. 
Before 10th grade, I was around 15, the only English I knew was “verb to be” and “verb to have” or whatever they taught in public schools at the time. In a sudden change of heart, my parents moved me from an all Arabic curriculum to an all English curriculum school. The transition was borderline traumatic...
In the same year, I found Hip-Hop. I used to print Eminem’s lyrics, read them while listening every night before going to bed, and then recite them on the way to school the next morning. Hip-hop improved my English, which in turn, improved my Hip-Hop. 

Lebanese/Canadian Artist "Mougleta" releases a video for "YA MAMA" & It's DOPE!!

Mougleta

I first heard of Mougleta from "Rayan" !! and I was blown away with her voice & amazing talent. Interviewed her and we had a great/cool chat.

She just released a video for her track "Ya Mama" and I loved it. I really love this song. Check out the video. Salute to Mougleta, Rayan & her team. 

This is what she had to say about the song "Ya Mama" 

"The Song is portraying my struggle as an independent artist trying to break through, in such a beautiful way. Thank you for everyone who's been part of the past year, for the good & the bad" 

Track Produced by "Rayan"
Video Directed by Omar Hamadeh