Who knew a floor-laying therapy session and dancing on microaggressions could be so cathartic to watch? From the third episode of Sarah Bahbah’s podcast-cinema hybrid commissioned by WePresent, Nemahsis pulls you into her rebellious inner world.

She secretly began wearing a hijab in grade four without anyone’s permission. And now, she is dripped in hijab and a suit while screaming “STFU” publicly.

In Can I Come In?, the Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter opens up about what it means to be a Muslim Arab woman in the West. Pushed to choose between her art and her love life, and navigating a music industry that turned colder after October 7th, Nemahsis doesn’t hold back. This isn’t a pity story though and she is far from broken.

So, what do we learn in the new vid?

She was the ‘sneaky link’ friend everyone pretended not to know

Growing up in an all-white town post-9/11, she says she was seen as “dirty,” “Arab,” and “dangerous.” Yet those same classmates would sneak off to hang out with her in the forest because she was unmistakably cool and hilarious.

After October 7, the lack of public support triggered childhood trauma

When Palestine became global news again, people did not openly support it. “People don’t know how to stand up for something,” she shares. The ‘sneaky link’ trauma resurfaced, but this time, she wasn’t going to take it.

She was once asked to choose: love or music

Nemahsis opens up about a past relationship where she was asked to give up her artist career to be with someone. His family wouldn’t bless the marriage unless she quit music. She made the logical decision to choose music because music would never hurt her.

Her love language is acts of service (and chicken liver)

She did not grow up with a lot, but thanks to her loving dad, she never felt poor. Her dad would buy her fresh chicken liver because she loved it so much. He set the standard for the type of partner she wants (but she’s not really looking right now).

Her creative process is about letting go

She’s inspired by other artists, often full of creative fire. She’s not a perfectionist, but is a procrastinator who often faces blockages. But once she starts flowing, it’s hard for her to stop creating.

She dreams of freedom for all

“We will be free,” she says, speaking directly to Palestinians.

Click here to read our latest interview with Nemahsis.