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Nai Barghouti is a Palestinian musician and collaborator on a new track with Grammy-Award winning artist Skrillex. The new song, titled Xena, is the fifth single release from Skrillex in recent times, and the latest in a number of collaborations with other musicians that includes tracks with Fred Again, Flowdan, PinkPantheress, Trippie Redd, Bobby Raps, and Bladee.
The new single Xena was initially debuted back in 2017, with the ‘final’ version of the song featuring Barghouti rumoured to be on a hotly anticipated new album from Skrillex – the artist hasn’t released a full album in some years, although numerous reports expect two to drop in 2023.
Barghouti’s featured vocals are likened to a war cry with many referencing Xena the Warrior Princess, while musically a thumping four-to-the-floor bass in parts creates a frenzy that contrast nicely with the minimalistic sections, with the track taking the listener on a journey of many parts.
Nai shared a video on Instagram of herself in the recording studio with Skrillex, with a caption that read:
“I still remember the very first time we met. We shook hands and just kind of knew that something great will come out of it. Beyond thrilled and honored to be part of this incredible track with the one and only @skrillex.”
At the time of writing, no exact translations have been publicly proofread and confirmed online in English, however some rough estimates of Xena lyrics include read as:
Singing for his uncle’s children, they will chase him
Count the dowry and give the blessings
With the horses they have tied, they will chase you
Zafoli Mohammed at the door of the column
Moving her audience to tears, laughs, elation, and a long-standing ovation is not exceptional for this exceptional singer, flutist, and composer. The award-winning Palestinian artist Nai Barghouti presents a diverse repertoire that highlights her genre-defying premiere album, Nai-1, covers of renowned Arabic classics, and a unique fusion of Jazz, Western and Arabic music using her unique vocal technique.
Nai’s vocal technique stunningly evokes qualities of three Arab legendary singers, the velvety depth of Asmahan, the powerful projection, range and control of Umm Kulthum, and the unparalleled angelic and deeply emotive head resonance of Fairouz.
Nai was awarded both her BA and MA degrees with honors from the Conservatory of Amsterdam. There she explored the relationship between Arab Tarab music and Jazz, and developed her unique singing technique called NaiStrumentation. In 2021, she was awarded the prestigious Young Talent Award of the Royal Concertgebouw theatre in Amsterdam.
In a 2019 interview with Fanack, Nai spoke about her hopes for the future of music for fellow Palestinian musicians, expressing her wish to one day return and create prospects for those denied the chance to either leave the country or study there, saying:
“My ultimate goal is to go back to Palestine and give back to the people there. It’s my country. It was my first reason for studying art! My dream is to launch a musical program in Palestine that offers official degrees, so the youth don’t have to leave to study abroad. I want them to have opportunities in their own country.
To me, having access to music is a human right, but in Palestine, especially in Gaza, art is a privilege. It just makes our message even stronger, both musically and as a statement: that despite those issues and rejections, despite the checkpoints, we will still be able to unite and make music.”
Twitter: @NaiBarghouti
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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