Nadah El Shazly, the Montreal-based, the Egyptian-born, producer, vocalist, composer, and actor, has announces her highly anticipated second album, Laini Tani and shares the records closing track “Ghorzetein”. Laini Tani is set for release on June 6th via Backward Music and her One Little Independent Records. Renowned for her blending of experimental sounds with traditional Arabic influences and improvisational styles, El Shazly’s garnered international acclaim for her genre-defying artistry, mesmerising vocals, and avant-garde arrangements.
– Pre-Order Laini Tani on LP/CD/DIG –
– Listen to debut single ‘Ghorzetein’ // Watch the video –
Laini Tani conveys a heady, exhilarating rush of excess, evoking a sultry haze of balmy nights that stretch effortlessly into dawn while clubs continue unphased. Each track serves as a vignette, capturing fleeting yet vivid moments of introspection, defiance, or unrestrained euphoria. Through intricate wordplay, layered metaphors, and personal symbols, El Shazly crafts an aural and lyrical tapestry vibrant with meaning, where every note and phrase hints at a more intimate narrative. The album is one of contrasts – between indulgence and contemplation, spontaneity and observation – inviting the listener to lose themselves in its enchanting rhythms while deciphering the deeper truths woven into its fabric.
On ‘Ghorzetein’ El Shazly explores the double wound of a heart that has loved and been broken twice, reflected in its English title, “Two Stitches.” The track begins as a brooding, atmospheric piece with building intensity, featuring the raw percussion of a sonic CPR, reviving the heart from its emotional stupor. This progression captures the duality of despair and resilience, making it both an emotional journey and a visceral listening experience.
The soundscape of the album is a rich balance that forges a dynamic interplay between classical Egyptian improvisation, voice manipulation and electronic beats. Nadah teams up with 3Phaz as co-producer, and her long-term collaborator, Sarah Pagé on harp and electronics. It captures not only the chaos and beauty of urban life but also the private battles and triumphs within it that define the human experience. Together, the tracks create a compelling portrait of an artist unafraid to embrace vulnerability and honour the power of music as a salve for the soul, as well as one immersed in a creative community that encourages this.
Born and raised in Cairo, El Shazly began her musical journey as a member of Sick Gdrch, a Misfits cover band, before venturing into electronic production and composition. Her debut album, 2017’s Ahwar, earned global praise for its merging of heritage and innovation, and established Nadah as a leading figure in the contemporary music landscape. She appeared on the cover of The Wire in 2018 in an issue announcing “Cairo’s New Wave.”
El Shazly’s live performances are equally immersive, combining her enthralling voice with intricate sound manipulation and dynamic collaborations with other musicians. She has worked with a host of innovators including Sam Shalabi, Elvin Brandhi, Maurice Louca, and many more. She’s graced stages at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including Irtijal, Le Guess Who?, Rewire, Best Kept Secret, FIMAV, Roskilde, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Nusasonic, and Marfa Myths. Beyond her solo work, Nadah is an active contributor to Cairo’s independent music scene, supporting emerging artists and engaging in cross-disciplinary projects.
Nadah is also known for her soundtrack work. In 2022 she scored the film Les Damnés ne pleurent pas (The Damned Don’t Cry), that follows Fatima-Zahra and her teenage son Selim who move from place to place, forever trying to outrun the latest scandal she’s caught up in. El Shazly won the Best Original Music award at the Bordeaux International Independent Film Festival and at the Dublin International Film Festival. In the last year she’s also scored Last Party in R. Desert! by Mahmoud Sabbagh, and To a Land Unknown by Mahdi Fleifel.
Laini Tani is out June 6th via Backward Music