Guest Feature: Intibint
Well, Barbie finally premiered in Lebanon yesterday, over a month after the film’s worldwide release.
But at this point, people in Lebanon have either probably already pirated Barbie, obtained a DVD copy of it, or they’re so tired of hearing about the movie that they’ll avoid it.
If only Lebanon would put this energy toward addressing….oh I don’t know, actual systemic issues caused by the government and political elites?
Anyway friends, let’s get right into it. I am so excited to introduce this week’s guest feature: Intibint!
Intibint is the moniker of Glasgow-based Yemeni-British producer, singer and songwriter Noha. Debuting with Myself in 2020, and later releasing her first EP in 2021 which included several self-produced tracks, Intibint has been consistently sharing her musical growth through tracks adorned with dreamy vocals and hypnotic sounds.
Her name was born out of a desire to change the narrative for Yemeni women by taking the phrase “you’re a girl”, usually meant to undermine them and changing its meaning through her work. It continues as a reminder from her younger self to keep pushing the boundaries both in her music and life. She is inspired by a range of music from Yemeni musician Fouad Al Kebsi, to electronic artists like Jai Paul.
Intibint is an absolutely incredible artist and thoughtful human being. Always repping Yemen, always true to her craft, and an outspoken advocate, Intibint is someone that you have to listen to and support, trust me on this. It’s an honor to have her come through Sa’alouni El Nas this week, and you know she brought the vibes:
1. What song do you have on repeat right now?
I was having one of my regular late nights just watching music videos, and letting YouTube take me on a little journey and I came across Mitki’s latest release called “Bug Like an Angel”, and I haven’t listened to anything else since.
2. Tell me a song that makes you cry.
I have an entire playlist for that (here), which may indicate how difficult it was for me to choose. Around the end of 2022 though, I heard the song “Baraye” by Iranian musician Shervin Hajipour, which he wrote after the murder of Mahsa Amini and the protests that event ignited, but resonated with people worldwide. It’s one of those that you can’t listen to without getting sad.
3. What song reminds you of your childhood?
Growing up in a Yemeni household in London, with 3 older sisters, there was a lot of R&B, pop, and traditional Yemeni/Arabic music being played. There’s a video of me in our front garden in Stevenage, a little town just outside London, when I was about 5 singing “It’s Raining Men” by the Wheather Girls, in the rain of course. Whenever I hear that song I’m reminded of that time.
4. Name a song that you sing in the shower or in the car.
When I’m in the shower I like a belter, the shower acoustics make it the perfect place for that, recently though I’ve been obsessed with Raye's debut album, especially the track “Black Mascara”.
5. Tell me a song that everyone should listen to.
I would say my song “Sunflower” that has just come out, but also “Ghorba” by Flomine, probably my favourite producer at the moment.
Big shout out to Intibint for joining and sharing her song selections! All of Intibint’s songs will be included in this week’s playlist, so be sure to take a listen. Be sure to follow Intibint on Instagram and go listen to her music on your preferred platform!
What I’m Listening To
Full Playlist
🎧 Middle Eastern, North African, & Diaspora Flows 🎧
Sunflower - Intibint featuring Ekin Oykener
Realitea - psi.ko
7michti - Zaid Laazizi
SAFARI - PAPII
Mshmashi - Big Bo featuring Bobilal
Destin - Zaoui
Ra7o Elgheyrak Ya Galb - Reem Al Sawas
VOLT 3ALY - Marwan Moussa
Batta (Asrijah) - Xiety featuring Lil SA3D
Sbabi - Inez
JOUJ MIZAN - PAUSE featuring Diib
BÉNÉF - SCOOL BOY featuring Hassa1
MAKE A MESS - Hot Ice Cream
Basita - Sabine Salamé & Munma
7elwa Menak - Wegz
Waynak - Kabreet
Al-Furat - Shkoon featuring Metatext
Ma Baamal Rap - Jamul & Aladdin.wav
Khetet El Tadmeer El Zaty - Taht El Sefr
Wa9t S3ob - Esserpent
🎤 Latinx & Hispanic Vibes 🎤
1+1 - Naika
Dos Extraños - Yahritza Y Su Esencia
HOY ME PORTO MAL - Sofia Reyes
Trajecito XS - Alejo featuring Yandel
SPANISH TETEO - Rvfv featuring Rels B and Omar Montes
Romance - st. Pedro
¿Y Si Eras Tú? - Ela Taubert
Ando Animal - Letón Pé featuring Piek
MODA - MÓRY
EASY - Nino Augustine
🎼 Other Good Music 🎼
In The Morning - Marzz
Lanke - Teni
Wrong One - GloRilla featuring Aleza, K Carbon, Gloss Up, and Slimeroni
My Love - Leigh-Anne featuring Ayra Starr
the grudge - Olivia Rodrigo
Bongos - Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
Gravity - Tinashe
BODY TOUCHING BODY - Buju Banton featuring Victoria Monét
Tip Toes - Clavish featuring Aitch
Lost - Jalen Ngonda
What I’m Reading
🇱🇧 Lebanon 🇱🇧
Role reversal: Parents in Lebanon rely on working children for financial support - Lisa Goursaud, L’Orient Today
As Lebanon grapples with an unparalleled crisis, some parents find themselves increasingly dependent on their children, marking a poignant role reversal fraught with sacrifices for the younger generation.
Courage in the face of hatred: Navigating queer existence in an ugly Lebanon - K.N., Raseef22
“All of this is causing a battle to rage within me. For our right to exist, our right to live, I want to fight. I want to defend my friends who suddenly found themselves trapped in a bar worrying about being assaulted or possibly killed.”
Trash talk: How a local initiative is helping to clean up Lebanon - Lisa Sofian, The New Arab
“We believe that substantial changes can happen from within, through small steps and strong beliefs” – The waste crisis in Lebanon and the SWIM Initiative.
Meet the e-bike company peddling a revolution in urban transportation - Sally Abou AlJoud, L’Orient Today
The startup is committed to bringing e-biking to Lebanon, by ensuring that its bikes are fully adapted to the country’s hectic driving conditions.Broker used by Riad Salameh's Lebanon central bank accused of 'extravagant' irregularities - Nada Maucourant Atallah, The National
Previously undisclosed audit sheds light on allegations against Optimum, the lesser-known broker of Lebanon's scandal-hit central bank.
🌍 Middle East, North Africa, & Diaspora 🌎
‘It brought back memories of Syria.’ For refugees in Sudan, war is a reminder of the terror they left behind - Sana Noor Haq, Nadeen Ebrahim, and Celine Alkhaldi, CNN
Over 93,000 Syrians settled in Sudan, the third largest group of refugees in the country after South Sudanese and Eritrean, according to the UNHCR.
Has the Tunisian government declared war on freedom of expression? - Zeina Bakri, Raseef22
Activists are cautioning against the dangerous revival of the "internet police" after the Tunisian Ministry of Justice initiated legal proceedings against activists under accusations of "spreading false rumors".
Guilty by association: Egypt's alarming trend of arresting activists’ relatives - Fatima Jawhari, Raseef22
In the aftermath of Egypt's political transformations in 2013, left-wing journalists and activists became targets of heightened security measures. Detaining their family members became a common tactic to exert pressure on them, especially if they lived abroad.
What role does culture play in Palestinian liberation? - Mohammed El-Kurd, Mondoweiss
What role does literature play in the Palestinian liberation movement? Though the question itself isn’t subversive, it feels that way. There are many considerations, but it’s hard to imagine what a poem can do in the barrel of a gun.UAE Sets Up Gaming Body In Potential Move Toward Casinos - Omar Tamo and Archana Narayanan, Bloomberg
The United Arab Emirates has established a federal body to regulate the gaming industry, paving the way for the country to potentially become the first Gulf state to legalize casinos.
🎶 Music, Arts, & Culture 🎶
Burning Man, Electric Zoo, Fyre: Why do festivals keep going wrong? - Annabelle Timsit, The Washington Post
Thousands of Burning Man attendees were stranded in the Nevada desert. It is the latest festival to be disrupted in recent years. What is going on?
Ghostwriter Returns With an A.I. Travis Scott Song, and Industry Allies - Joe Coscarelli, The New York Times
The anonymous artist, who stirred conversation with the A.I. track “Heart on My Sleeve,” has been quietly consulting with executives, while also gunning for a Grammy.
The Culture Wars Are Tearing the Close-Knit Country Music Community Apart - David Browne, Rolling Stone
Nashville and its stars are squaring off publicly over differing ideologies and beliefs, leading to changes in tour lineups and chilly backstage vibes: "Dressing rooms doors are shut now"
Deena Abdelwahed: forging futurism from tradition - Martin Guttridge-Hewitt, DJ Mag
With her new album ‘Jbal Rrsas’, Deena Abdelwahed pioneers new forms of electronic music shaped by musical traditions from across the Arab world. Here, she speaks to Martin Guttridge-Hewitt about studying regional dance music styles, the nature of collaboration, and opening minds to new possibilities.
Dareen Is the Rising Rapper on a Quest To Put Egypt on the Map - Yassine Harris, Mille World
In an arena where authenticity reigns supreme, and where males dominate the spotlight, the Alexandria native emerges as a noticeable figure who gathers attention while redefining narratives with the help of her unapologetic artistry and unwavering presence and perseverance.
📚 Other Reads 📚
If Haiti were Ukraine, international community would have delivered a show of force by now - Tim Padget, Miami Herald
“So the question remains — for the umpteenth time amid Haiti’s gang-led spiral into failed-state chaos — what will the United States and the international community do? And, for the umpteenth time, the answer sounds like: not a whole heck of a lot for the time being.”
The New Little Havana: Why Cuban Migrants Are Moving to Kentucky - Miriam Jordan, The New York Times
Louisville, best known for bourbon, the Kentucky Derby and Muhammad Ali, is now home to the fastest-growing Cuban community in the country.
Chaos, Comedy, and ‘Crying Rooms’: Inside Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ - Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone
Sixteen current and former staffers say Fallon’s erratic behavior spoiled their “dream” of working on The Tonight Show.
Muslims are already excluded from French political life: that’s the real issue in the school abayas row - Kaoutar Harchi, The Guardian
Abaya-wearing girls are seen not simply as students, but as envoys of global Islamism conspiring against the French nation.
These shocking stories explain why Spain’s women’s team want systemic change - Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic
After the reigns of Quereda and Vilda, Spain’s female footballers want the RFEF to embark on a deeper cultural reset to fix a broken system.