Ruba Shamshoum offers a literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air into what appears to be a heavily sound-produced atmosphere of the Arab indie scene.
London-based Palestinian “creator of poetic dream-pop” – as self-described on her website – Ruba Shamshoum released the sophomore EP to her crowd-funded “Shamat titled “Risha – Feather”, and it certainly delivers what it promises to be. A poetic dream-pop piece lauding the human connection to nature and to the self.
Shamshoum continues with her signature style using layers of vocalization and stripped-back contra-bass rhythms overlaid with sparkles of nature-imitating sounds to create a unique atmosphere that stipulates Ruba’s sound.
The EP’s self-titled opener ‘Risha’ sets the tone for the album sound as a transportive gate to Ruba’s world accompanied by her humming and vocals creating floating melodies similar to, indeed, a feather carried by natural winds.
The EP continues with the single ‘Sununu – The Swallow bird’ seemingly offering the album’s heaviest produced sounds before returning to Ruba’s harmonization in ‘Manara – The Lighthouse’.
With “Risha’s” lyrics, melodies, and spoken words, Shamshoum offers – as ever – a literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air into what appears to be a heavily sound-produced atmosphere of the Arab indie scene.
Stream “Risha” EP on Spotify.
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