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Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - JEDDAH: An indie-alternative band from Jeddah is making waves in the region’s budding music scene after signing with Wall of Sound Records, who published and mixed their debut album.

Ana.n7n’s members include Malik Zubaila on vocals and synth, Saleh Binsaif on percussion and keys, Shaher Karkashan and Saif Mufti on bass, Maan Balila on drums and visuals, and Hasnain Shaikh as live sessional drummer.

Formed in 2019, the band blends rock with traditional Arabic music, with Hejazi lyrics and societal themes. The name, Ana.n7n, translates as “I. We.”

“We’ve mixed our traditional Hejazi culture with the western sound of music to create our unique sound,” Zubaila told Arab News. “Speaking with our mother tongue has brought us greater acceptance from local and Saudi audiences, even those who aren’t traditionally fans of rock or western music.”

It’s a gift that we are living in Saudi Arabia and experiencing the improvement and support the government is offering to all musicians nowadays.

Malik Zubaila, Ana.n7n vocalist

The band’s sound is a captivating fusion of heavy basslines, layered synths and piercing Arabic percussion. Released at the end of July, their debut album — the 15-track “Fe Makanen Ma … Fe Zamanen Ma …” (“In a Place … In a Time …”) — is the culmination of four years of creative exploration. It includes remastered singles and new tracks featuring collaborations with artists such as 7MND from Bahrain, Abzy from Kuwait, and Ghada Sheri from Jeddah.

“We released some songs as singles … they came together as an album by the end of the road,” Zubaila said.

The music and lyrics of the album reference and reflect on social media addiction and its influence on life.

“We are speaking of the tongue of our people and their addiction to social media and the problems and experiences of social life,” said Zubaila.

Ana.n7n’s music transcends language barriers, resonating with audiences through its raw emotion and honest portrayal of societal issues. As an indie-alternative band, they have faced unique challenges and experiences within the music industry.

“One of the specific challenges we’ve faced is the general inaccessibility and complexity of rock and heavy indie music for many people. This limited our reach initially,” Zubaila told Arab News.

“However, the audience for this genre is incredibly loyal and supportive, which has been a driving force behind our continued efforts and success.”

The band is optimistic about the changing landscape of Saudi music. “It’s a gift that we are living in Saudi Arabia and experiencing the improvement and support the government is offering to all musicians nowadays,” Zubaila said. “We have lived and faced the change.”

He added the band was committed to contributing to the evolution of the Saudi music scene and inspiring future generations of musicians: “We are very excited to be part of the early bands and the change going on in our country, and we hope that our music inspires more generations and artists to come.”