On the Loop: Maghrebi Pop from Soolking Distinct and Others
On the Loop: Maghrebi Pop from Soolking Distinct and Others: In the latest releases of the past weeks, the lively summer rhythms in Maghreb pop songs have subsided, giving way to a collection of emotional tunes filled with melancholic themes. The exception is the track “Yawdur,” which stands out from the crowd with its enduring vitality, encouraging dancing weeks after its release.
Al-Horr – What is My Fault?
Two years after his last single, “Ya Omri,” Al-Horr returns with a new song entitled “What is My Fault,” revolving around themes of suffering and loneliness as he reflects on the treachery around him. The melodies carry a vivacious undertone that doesn’t conceal the sadness conveyed by its lyrics: “Tell the beloved, Rah, those who were jealous, sold us Vapor/And my story is among the people.” It spans from Tangier to Nador. The video visually captures the song’s sentiment through a textured video directed by Kawthar El Taghzawi.
Zeina Al-Daoudia – To Whom Did You Leave Me?
A few weeks ago, Zeina released the rhythmic dance song “Cinema” and returned with the song “To Whom You Kept Me” a few days ago, featuring a completely different sound. It is infused with influences from Rai and popular Aita songs, albeit presented in a contemporary form. The new song showcases Zeina Al-Dadawi’s exceptional vocal abilities and performance mastery, honed since her childhood in singing these popular songs.
Seventon – Morgana
Despite Seventon’s hiatus of more than a year following his latest album, “Bandana,” his popularity persists, and his new releases quickly regain the spotlight, regardless of their sonic orientation. The song “Morgana” narrates a breakup story, delivered by Seventon with a pop performance and a dramatic video clip. The song gained widespread resonance on various platforms, and many cover versions of it circulated.
Soolking and Distinct – Spin
Following his last album, released about a year ago, “Sans Visa,” all of Soolking’s subsequent releases have taken the form of collaborations with Kenji, Niska, and Jazoo. He returned two weeks ago with a new release in collaboration with Distinct, titled “Spin.” The new song provides a shared space for the two artists to sing in colloquial and French language in an Afro-pop track, similar to other Distinct tracks making waves this summer such as “Tik Tok” and “Business.”
Moh Milano – I Wanna Go
Moh Milano’s new song bears his signature in both lyrics and melodies, expressing a sentiment through calm and flowing rhythms, as if the listener is conveying regret and a desire to withdraw from their current life and bid it farewell forever. Moha has been actively and diversely publishing over the last two years, all of which have achieved great success.
