With each passing year, American audiences are expanding their musical horizons. The star turns of many Latinx artists made splashy headlines in the last 12 months, with 2023 seeing a new record set for most Spanish-language songs reaching the Billboard Hot 100. Afrobeats and amapiano also dominated 2023, culminating in the first-ever award for Best African Music Performance at the 2024 GRAMMYs.
But the increasing popularity of those international sounds are just a few pieces of a larger trend, where artists' a global influences are making a mark on the American listener. When Palestinian-Chilean pop star Elyanna performed "Asabk eshq" on Coachella’s main stage last year, she became the first Arab artist to sing in Arabic at the festival. The set was yet another signal of the ascension of a new wave of music in American pop consciousness.
But if you think Elyanna’s take on pop is the end-all be-all of art from Arab artists, you’re mistaken — but also in luck. Artists from throughout the Arab world are making their mark in pop music and, according to Rolling Stone, the center of the Arab music industry have shifted from Egypt and Lebanon to include artists from North Africa and the Persian Gulf. Arab artists in the American diaspora are similarly broad in their roots and sound, providing listeners with a wealth of aural treasures.
To celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, GRAMMY.com has put together a spotlight on five incredible Arab American acts from a range of styles that deserve your attention year-round. Get to know Lana Lubany, Felukah, Saint Levant, Bayou, and Sahera.
Lana Lubany
Though she’s now based in London after moving there to study music, Lana Lubany’s visceral pop experiments honor and upend her Palestinian American roots. Many songs on her latest project, 2023’s THE HOLY LAND, alternate between English and Arabic at the drop of a hat, and similarly incorporate musical traditions from both cultures (though Lubany is also as likely to pull inspiration from Rosalía and Billie Eilish). The EP’s coming-of-age exploration is a fascinating look at multiculturalism, refusing to be defined by any one facet of her identity.
To top that achievement, Lubany’s most recent single is the sublime "STANNA", a track which carries shades of Timbaland, but also revels in Moroccan-esque vocal dives and choppy synth trills. Crowds in Europe got a chance to revel in that mercurial blend when Lubany opened for eminently buzzy indie act The Last Dinner Party. And while the UK may be catching on first, there’s no doubt that her addictive pop will continue growing a fanbase stateside as well.
Felukah
Egyptian-born, New York-based Felukah’s latest cements her in the rich tradition of her scene: "Wavy in Brooklyn" is a groovy slice of the city’s storied rap tradition. Sara Elmessiry moved to the Big Apple to study creative writing, and her clever wordplay and lithe flow demonstrate that approach — not to mention the fluidity of the movement of the traditional Egyptian ship she takes her rap moniker from.
"Real Egyptian royalty/ Brown girl divine/ New York in the spring, Egypt in the summertime," she glows on last year’s "Egyptian Lover." Felukah’s work is full of nods to her heritage, but that song’s interpolation of Beyoncé’s "Baby Boy" shows how she stands with feet in both worlds — as many first and second generation people do. And by proudly uplifting women of color, Felukah speaks even more powerfully.
Saint Levant
When Saint Levant debuted last year with From Gaza With Love, the hip-hop world gained a fascinating, trilingual budding star. Born Marwan Abdelhamid, Levant’s family relocated to Jordan from Palestine, before he recently made his way to California for college.
Songs like the new "5am in Paris" demonstrate his chameleonic ability, pulling in elements from his journeys while also remaining focused on his home. "My body in Paris/ My heart in Gaza/ My soul in Algiers/ My ex in Casa/ My girl in L.A./ holds me in her arms/ I don't feel at home anywhere," he delivers in a steely melancholy. The track seamlessly blends French (from his mother’s Algerian side), English, and Arabic — both lyrically and musically. There’s an aspect of Drake to Levant’s endless cool, but the intensity of his conflicted identity and political history rings deeply.
Bayou
Like a blend of The Weeknd and Egyptian legend Amr Diab, Bayou taps into that late-night lothario vibe — his lush runs in Arabic the perfect counterpart to his more staccato English lyrics. R&B fans in need of a jolt should look no further than his latest single, "Bansa 7aly," which pulls from South African amapiano and finds Bayou maligning his tendency to "overthink when I’m high and alone."
The Egypt-born, L.A.-based vocalist explained his clever blend of perspectives in an interview with The New Arab: "Arabic is a language filled with so much emotion and so much depth. So, whenever I look to add that kind of depth I feel like Arabic always trumps English," he explained. And with Bayou just announcing a single with fellow highlighted artist Saint Levant coming around the corner, there couldn’t be a better time to catch the hype.
Sahera
Singer/songwriter Sahera styles herself as the "first Qatari pop singer." The Los Angeles-based artist has spent the last year trickling out singles that showcase her ability to swiftly infuse touches of traditional music into her glittering pop energy. The video for "Khaleeji" is a must-see, with Sahera decked out in full-length black and gold on a skateboard through the palm-lined streets of L.A.
As if that weren’t enough to sell you on Sahera, the track itself shines just as bright, a Shakira-esque headrush. Following singles "Habibti" and "Mirage" leaned a bit into R&B and aching balladry respectively, Sahera showcasing the depth needed to take this indie artist on a major pop star turn.