Stories

D.$AHIN is a Berlin-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music reflects a life lived between cultures. Ahead of her performance at XJAZZ! Festival, OFFKEY author Alice Vyvyan-Jones sat down with her to talk about what it means to create from a place of uprootedness.

With her upcoming debut solo EP "BiiLINGUAL" German-Iranian singer MADANii turns inward to unpack what it means to reclaim the parts of herself she once tried to hide. It is sung in Farsi and English, emotionally layered, and unapologetically honest. We spoke to the artist about the fire that fuels her, the burden of being misread, and why joy and community are essential to her sound.

The Iranian singer Faravaz will release her debut, "Azadi" (meaning "Freedom" in Farsi), on May 11th. The record recounts the story of her life in exile in Germany because the Iranian government sentenced her to one year in prison for the act of singing as a woman. Choosing to not return to her homeland, Faravaz fights for women’s rights from abroad. Her music is driven by the yearning and fight for liberation from patriarchal oppression.

The Glasgow-based artist Intibint uses creative expression to call to light injustice. Her latest single, "Ymn Alsa3eed" is inspired by the complicated relationship she has to Yemen—the country where she grew up but has not been able to return to since a civil war broke out in 2014. In conversation with Ilo Toerkell, Intibint speaks about her musical beginnings, the inspiration behind the new song, and why the war in Yemen should not be a forgotten one.

Hidaiyah "Yaya" Bey is a musician from Queens, New York, whose sound fuses elements of R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and dance into something entirely her own. OFFKEY author Alice Vyvyan-Jones had the honour of sitting down with Hidaiyah ahead of her debut Berlin show at Privatklub to speak about her upcoming album "do it afraid".

South African R&B artist lordkez recently dropped her latest album "You, Me & The 90’s". On the record, she explores themes of identity, care and spirituality. We caught up with the singer to talk about the creative process behind the project, her musical roots in the church, and why self-love remains a central theme in her creative and personal journey. 

Londoner rap icon Little Simz is back with a new record. "Lotus" is her sixth album and takes a more unguarded and personal turn in comparison to the previous releases. OFFKEY's editor Felicia Ete Aghaye took a closer look at the record and what makes it so special.

The Egyptian-born and Montreal-based producer and singer Nadal El Shazly is back with her second solo record. "Laini Tani" combines electronic production style with influences from Arabic traditional singing and rhythms. Svenja Isabel Hudson spoke to Nadah El Shazly about the story behind it.