Ahmed Amin

Photo courtesy of Nacelle / Sandbox.

Sandbox Reviewed

Sandbox 12 Reviewed: Gouna-Centered Days and Music-Focused Nights

From sun-soaked afternoons to 5 AM closing sets, Sandbox 12 returned to El Gouna with two moods and one clear identity.

Sandbox Music Festival El Gouna Red Sea

Sandbox Trail

Rolling Stone’s Pocket Guide to Sandbox 12

Everything you need to know about the setting, the crowd and the music at Sandbox 12 before heading to the festival.

Commentary

Noose Politics: What the Death Penalty Means for the West Bank’s Future

A new Israeli law mandating executions in military courts could reshape the conflict and close one of its last political channels.

FEATURES

A Looming Occupation on the Shores of the Litani

Amid fast news rounds and more noise than clarity, Israel is reviving its historic plans to annex southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.

Commentary

Beyond the Backlash: What Do We Do About AI in Ramadan TV?

This Ramadan’s AI controversy isn’t hysteria. It’s a demand for clarity before standards quietly erode.

Exclusive, FEATURES

We Need to Talk About Fans Entitlement

How an uneasy mix of fans' judgment, apathy, and elitism comes together to haunt underground artists every time one of them makes it big.

FEATURES

Ahead of Bahrain: 6 Songs That Define John Mayer’s Live Ritual

From “Neon” to “Gravity,” six essentials that define John Mayer’s live evolution before his Bahrain debut.

FEATURES

The Live Alchemy of John Mayer

Ahead of his Bahrain debut, Ahmed Amin revisits John Mayer’s iconic 2007 concert that cemented him as a guitar legend.

FEATURES

Balad Beast Reviewed: The Place, The Sound, The Crowd

Ahmed Amin attends the two-day festival and reports on what works, what’s missing, and what sets Balad Beast apart from regional peers.

Exclusive, FEATURES

A Cornerstone of Arab Alternative: Houdou Nisbi by Ziad Rahbani Revisited

How Ziad Rahbani’s Houdou Nisbi blended jazz, satire, and Lebanese reality to lay the groundwork for Arab indie and alternative music.

Commentary

Arab Films Are Reaching The Oscars, But The Industry Is Still Lagging

Four Arab films make the Oscars shortlist this year, marking a historic moment for an Arab cinema still struggling for sovereignty.

Album and Single Reviews

Souad Massi’s ‘Samt’ Bridges Tradition and Modernity

With “Samt,” Souad Massi leans into a fresher, groovier sound while preserving the intimacy and depth that define her artistry.