'The Independent Music Show Magazine' February 2024 | Page 7

As a genre-defying, narrative-focused artist, Rasha Nahas has been crafting a keenly singular music universe, cultivated in and loyal to the underground.

Driven by candid lyrics with disarming vulnerability, the Palestinian multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who now resides in Berlin, started her relationship with music at the early age of 10 as a classical guitarist. It wasn’t until her teens that she would begin writing and playing her own songs, carving a place in her hometown’s underground scene.

Nahas made her first release with English-language EP, ‘Am I’ (2016).

Produced between Bristol and Haifa.

Complemented by compelling live performances, Nahas secured tours

across Europe, South America, the UK and West Asia, including shows

at SIM São Paulo, Glastonbury Festival, Midem, Sziget and

Palestine Music Expo.

In early 2021, she released her critically acclaimed, theatrical-poetic

rock debut album,‘Desert’, which chronicled her journey from

Haifa to Berlin. It was featured by BBC4’s Loose Ends, the

Spotify-produced podcast, Spotify: Mic Check, as well as broad

national and international TV and radio coverage. Following

the release, she made a special appearance at Berlin International

Film Festival’s Teddy Awards, and showcased at Brighton’s

The Great Escape Festival and was among the first to receive the Bertha

Foundation Artivism Award.

Her sophomore LP,'Amrat', released in January 2023 via leading

UK independent label Cooking Vinyl was Rasha's first foray into

Arabic-language lyrics. A sentimental body of work laden with

nostalgia and longing, ‘Amrat’ is a two-chapter album

manoeuvring seamlessly between the thematic duality of

urban and rural landscapes. Recorded at 67 Studio in the

occupied Golan Heights, it featured contributions from

some of the most respected founding musicians of the

indie-scene in Palestine. Nahas’ signature songwriting

is enveloped by tender vocalization and a

constellation of percussion that journeys

across West Asia, North Africa, and back to

urban Berlin. The compelling album was

celebrated with sold-out release shows

in Germany and saw Rasha embark on

a wider European tour, including cities

across Germany, Netherlands, UK, France,

Austria and Sweden to name but a few.

Nahas also has extensive experience as a writer

and composer for film and theater productions,

including writing a range of pieces for Berlin’s

performing arts scene and Hamburg’s

Thalia Theater.

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