My Way: Five Young Saudi Talents Share Their Vision for the Present and Future

June 7, 2024 318

“I realized that music alone is not a sufficient reason; you need cultural motivations to enhance your sound.” While Ntitled expressed this idea in his interview with Billboard Arabia, the four other young Saudi artists featured on the May 2024 cover likely share a similar perspective. Although they appear as a cohesive group on the cover, each artist’s journey in the music industry is distinctly unique. Their paths diverge in genres, musical tastes, breakthroughs, plans, and projects, creating individual experiences.

The common thread among them is their identity as young individuals who grew up in the same cultural context, witnessing Saudi Arabia’s significant transformation. As these artists embarked on their careers, the country was opening up new horizons in arts, media, and society at an unprecedented scale. This societal shift influenced each artist’s journey, shaping their music and the cultural impact they aspire to achieve.

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For Abdulaziz Mane and Jori Kattan, talent shows ignited their music careers. Their determination to showcase their unique talents propelled them to stardom. Now, they face the challenge of using their talents to create engaging pop music experiences. Jori, after composing her first track a few years ago, found a deep desire to continue creating music. Abdulaziz Mane’s background in theater helped him recognize the versatility of his artistic identity.

Similarly, Hams Fekri, the winner of the first season of Saudi Idol, captivated the giants of Arabic pop music with her performances. Her path to fame seemed destined, given the exceptional talent of her mother, Amani Al-Shafei. Like her mother, Hams excels in the Shaabi pop genre, bringing an original voice and refined sound deeply rooted in her environment to whatever genre she explores.

Ntitled and Tamtam took a different approach, focusing on blending local sounds with international genres rather than adhering to traditional Arabic compositions. They incorporate English and other languages into their tracks, with Tamtam even planning to add Spanish to one of her upcoming songs. Tamtam also enjoys writing, often exploring themes of women’s empowerment and personal experiences, reflecting her bold and rebellious nature. She prioritizes artistic growth over the quantity of her releases.

Ntitled has made a significant mark on the Saudi hip-hop scene at a young age. He has forged strong partnerships within the regional music scene, collaborating on tracks like “Ween Yabu” with Dafencii, “Adan” with Moayad & Kali-B, and “LkLk” with producer Khayyat. His talent caught the attention of Swizz Beatz during a visit to Saudi Arabia, leading to a forthcoming collaboration, as confirmed by Ntitled in his interview with Billboard Arabia.

Written by: Power Radio

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