Starting out singing Misfits covers in a local punk band, Cairo’s Nadah el Shazly has since been making a name for herself in the city’s underground scene by producing her own electronic tracks. Her debut album, Ahwar (2017), emerged via Nawa Recordings, a label run by Khyam Allami that focuses on Middle Eastern artists. Ahwar was produced together with Maurice Louca and Sam Shalabi (of The Dwarfs of East Agouza), and takes its name from the Arabic word for “marshlands.”

On her debut, El Shazly’s vocals are daring yet soft, expertly executed from start to finish. Her lyrics are poetic and vivid, forming images through phrases such as “I drown in a sea of saliva of lunatics.” Alongside five original tracks is a cover of Sayyid Darwish’s “Ana 'Ishiqt (I Once Loved).” The album was produced between Canada and Egypt.

El Shazly has been featured in local and international festivals including Le Guess Who?, REWIRE, Best Kept Secret, Supersonic and many more. She continues to compose for film and visual art.

Nadah el Shazly is supported by the Goethe-Institut Cairo.