Following a string of hits, Jordanian singer Reina Khoury released her latest single, ‘Ahlami’ (My Dreams).
Ahlami tackles some powerful topics. Khoury’s first all-Arabic song has been described as “empowering yet vulnerable”.
“Ahlami is about the struggles of an independent musician’s career, specifically being female and being here in the Middle East, and the powerful mindset that we need to adopt in order to follow through and succeed,” says Khoury.
It’s a powerful message that will resonate with many, and it’s given more impact thanks to the stripped back but emotive music of the song.
Ahlami is being distributed via Levantine Music and Empire across the world and is set to build on Khoury’s growing reputation.
Delving deeper into Khoury’s musical history, and especially her YouTube channel, you find an artist who’s grown organically through her love of mashups, edits, and covers. Her ‘Howeh Al-Hob’ and ‘Lucid Dreams’ mashup has well over one million views. She’s also covered Ed Sheeran and ‘Akhrass’ in her own brilliant style.
Impressively, she’s managed to make every cover and mashup entirely her own, and she’s used that creativity on Ahlami, which marks her move into 100% Arabic music and lyrics.
“I am currently planning on releasing music very consistently, but the future releases are a surprise, an interesting surprise to say the least,” she said.
With restrictions lifted around the world and her music being heard in all corners of the world, Khoury is excited about the prospect of taking her music to the people.
“I’m hoping to be able to perform live this year. Nothing feels better than connecting with the audience in person and singing songs together.”
A 90’s kid that was born and raised in Amman, Jordan, Khoury’s singing style is nostalgic Arabic pop mixed with a strong influence from Western pop culture.
Growing up surrounded by music from different genres in Arabic and English, Khoury always tried to relate and listen closely to the unfolding of a storyline through the lyrics, that is where she found her interest in songwriting.