DEC 16 2023
By Alex Corey
Over the past two months, following the Oct 7th conflict and Israel's continued bombing of Gaza resulting in the killing of several thousand civilians. The 75-year-old Palestinian freedom struggle against Israeli apartheid has found a kindred spirit in the youth across the globe. From TikTok to mass protests taking over major cities the people have spoken, and they’ve gotten a temporary cease-fire but the fight from the river to the sea continues.
Palestinian artists worldwide have been raising awareness and encouraging the public to speak up against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Your Name Magazine has compiled some talented members of the Palestinian diaspora making waves with their music:
With a balance of booming Techno and dark atmospheric tones Cyber Witches work is best described as otherworldly. Sometimes edging into the ethereal, the DJ-producer from Haifa Occupied Palestine knows how to keep an audience on their toes. Start with their heatwave mix from this past summer or check out their residency with RadioFlouka for a different vibe every month. But if you’re feeling adventurous, their ambient album A.I. Angel Intelligence is a great off-the-wall cut.
This Gaza-raised multilingual rapper has been a force to be reckoned with after going viral on TikTok last November. With a mix of buttery flows, cutting bars, proper beat selection and seamless language swapping the “Freddy Mercury mixed with Marlon Brando” looking rapper has a long career ahead of him. While the track that blew him up is great, check out the Jerusalem Freestyle, Hamdulilah with Bayou, and Sak Pase with Michaël Brun and Lolo Zouaí to see him pop off.
With a mix of smooth afrobeat stylings and Reggaeton splices, Badaro creates an infectious vibe that makes you want to move. The up-and-coming Palestinian artist doesn’t have a dense catalog yet, but his work already shows the markings of a future industry veteran. The Toronto based vocalist has an ear for beats he’ll sit perfectly on, can hold his own next to features, and can do great work by himself. Best tracks to experience his stylings are Ahlami, a collaboration with “Szaba and Dancing."
There aren’t many album artists these days, but the experimental electronic artist Bouncy Duck is on the list of those who need their works seen in full. The artist, also known as Osama Zakaria, creates soundscapes in a way that pulls the audience into a range of emotions rather than a single feeling. From an entire album centered on the rose-coloured glasses that tint childhood memories to their most recent work dragging the audience through the powder keg of emotions that arise from living in the Palestinian-occupied state, Zakaria takes production and makes poetry. Best way to start with their catalog would be the album Childhood Memories and their recently released project PALESTINE IS ALWAYS WAR is something everyone should hear.
From Painfully somber tracks like Ana Wein to Poppy Y2K vibes on her newest release Wala Forsa if there’s anything Zeyne lacks it definitely isn’t variation. The 25-year-old Jordanian-Palestinian singer has counted a range of influences from Lauren Hill to Rosalía that formed her unique catalog. But one thread that runs through every genre she steps through is a voice that radiates emotion and a captivating presence on tape. The best way to see that presence in action is through her tracks Bala Wala Shi and Nostalgia.
Also Known as “The Blossoms” in English, Al-Bara’em was a Palestinian psychedelic rock band active from 1966-1976. The band was discovered by podcaster Sama'an Ashrawi, the son of a band member, when understated talk of the band's history amongst family turned to photos of proper concerts. The band may only have a few tracks on Spotify but they set a great mellow vibe and deserve a spot in anyone's playlist.
Comments