In Bad Taste
(Ma) Bdna Nrou
Against a long history of political and protest music, Salma Mousa asks why Arab pop today insists we chill when we should rage.
MUSIC
Syrr, Spilled
Maryam Saleh’s Syrr Is the Revivalist Album We’ve Been Waiting For
Maryam Saleh’s Syrr is the revivalist album Arabic music has been waiting for – intimate, effortless, and deeply felt.
Decolonized Self
Nene H’s Primal Techno Rebirth on Second Skin
Turkish producer Nene H opens up about grief, club politics, and finding liberation through techno on Second Skin.
Raï & Wrong
Faudel: The End of Exile and the Price of Politics
After a Sarkozy performance derailed his career, Faudel reflects on exile, backlash, and the politics artists can’t escape.
Future Radar
Rolling Stone MENA Future Radar 2026: 25 Artists to Watch
Rolling Stone MENA unveils its inaugural Future Radar list – an annual franchise spotlighting 25 regional voices driving the future of Arab music.
MUSIC
“Ghannaki Al Qalb”: A Triumph and Turning Point in Arabic Opera
There is more to “Ghannaki Al Qalb” (“My Heart Sings to You”) by international tenor Amine Hachem than is apparent…
No Labels
Ino Casablanca Is Next: Whether You Know It Or Not
Ino Casablanca steamrolls genres, stereotypes, and labels, clearing ground for a sound as singular as it is inherited.
North Stars
Native, Not Disruptive: Three Voices from North Africa’s New Wave
Emerging indie trailblazers Rita L’Oujdia, Koast, and Zad are charting a new path forward for North African music.
In Solidarity
A Vital Lifeline: Saint Levant’s 2048 Foundation Backs Palestinian Musicians
Saint Levant’s 2048 Foundation launches to fund and connect Palestinian musicians constrained by occupation and scarce resources.
Guides & Guardians
Guides and Guardians: The Four Producers Shaping Egypt’s Rap Scene
Egypt’s hip-hop scene has become a generation’s voice – meet the restless producers guiding, protecting, and pushing it forward.
MUSIC
Jet Le Parti: The Cost of Leaving a Mark
360 deals have become increasingly common across the music industry, with artists signing away touring, merch, licensing, and publishing in…
Sherine Between The Lines
How Sherine Became The Voice of Egypt? A Linguistic Data Analysis
A close reading of Sherine’s lyrics – powered by linguistic data analysis – reveals how her music mirrors Egypt’s shifting realities.
