Our daily lives are shaped by music. We have playlists for everything from getting ready with the girls to getting over an ex. Does anyone else sing a ballad in the shower, or is it just us? But behind every chorus and lyric is an artist bold enough to bare their heart.

And with heart, comes song and stories.

Now, we have the Middle East where femmes are front and center. They are inviting us into their world, one project at a time. These artists aren’t afraid to shake up the global music scene. Whether they’re reimagining genres, blending cultural influences, or turning grief into hits, they’re redefining what it means to be seen on their terms in the Middle East and beyond.

So, get ready to tap in and meet the musicians singing and starting conversations we’ve never needed more.

Felukah

She is an Egyptian rapper, singer, and poetess dubbed the “Arabfuturist songstress.” Felukah creates music that celebrates Arab and North African women in all their expressions, blending traditional and contemporary sounds with a fierce feminist edge. Her lyrics feels both deeply rooted and boldly revolutionary. Keep an eye out for the music video to her latest single “albi henak / قلبي هناك” , directed by the singer herself, the video, shot like a home movie spotlights Sudanese and Palestinian families in Egypt. Find it on YouTube on October 3. 

We ♥️ her song Egyptian Lover . Listen here:

ABIR

Blinged up and probably in a sports jersey, Moroccan-American powerhouse ABIR is back with the summer anthem. “Love Ain’t Blind,” is the final single ahead of her album The Game. The track unpacks the moment clarity appears as she confronts a toxic lover, cutting through infatuation and toxic familiarity.

We ♥️ her song Love Ain’t Blind. Listen here:

Nour Helou

Every playlist needs one song that you can soulfully look out the window into the rain while you listen to it on repeat. For us, it’s anything from Nour Helou, the Lebanese singer is set to release her next single, “Ma Bteshbahni”  which comes with visuals that are just as full of melancholy.

We ♥️ her song Bel Leil. Listen here:

Wafia

She is an Australian singer-songwriter of Iraqi-Syrian descent. Her music is built for feel-good heartbeats and emotionally resonant storytelling with lyrics rooted in identity. She recently dropped her debut album Promised Land, which is a dreamy journey through themes of migration, love, family tension, and self-discovery.

We ♥️ her song Heart Burn. Listen here:

Dounia

She is a Moroccan-American spiritually tuned babe we’ve been waiting for. She’s all about divine feminine energy. Dounia makes a blend of alt-R&B and pop music. “I’m a writer and songstress at heart, and I love using production to take things into new and interesting directions,” she tells us. Keep an eye out for her upcoming EP, Mrs. Lovebomb, to be released on August 8.

We ♥️ her song Rich Girl Mood. Listen here:

Rita Malek

She is a Lebanese-Syrian artist based in Kuwait who recently released her single, Habba. “It’s the kind of music that enters and exits your world without warning,” she shares. “It doesn’t beg to be heard. It just… is.” The five-track project effortlessly glides between amapiano, Afro beats, Arabic pop, and Bedouin melodies. Our girl has got range.

We ♥️ her song Ya Dunyay (Dum Taka). Listen here:

Asayel

She is a fashion loving hip-hop artist from Saudi Arabia. Asayel was recently featured in Fujifilm Instax Middle East’s new campaign in partnership with Billboard Arabia. Her music has Hejazi (Saudi) slang and bold lyrics, drawing from her childhood—so yes, get ready to dance.

We ♥️ her song Asliyah. Listen here:

Ilham

She is a Moroccan-American songstress making waves in alternative R&B. Raised in New York City, her city girl aesthetics bleed through in her music (and we love to see it). She has collaborated with London on da Track and Arin Ray. Her upcoming album uhm…ok? will be released soon.

We ♥️ her song back and forth. Listen here:

Want more for your summer playlist? We’ve gotchu here bestie. 💋