One of the faces of an S-Pop revolution, the Saudi-Ecuadorian songwriter Mishaal Tamer is set to embark on his first solo European tour this summer.
Mishaal Tamer has a wildly eclectic taste in music. From legendary Egyptian crooner Abdel Halim Hafez to grunge pioneers Nirvana, Tamer has found inspiration in seemingly disparate corners of the sonic landscape. Add Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, and Saudi R&B star Hajaj to the musical melting point and suddenly Tamer’s unique sound makes perfect sense. Blending indie vocals with sensitive lyrics and innovative instrumentals, including an ingenious self-made “electric oud,” Tamer is both a gifted musician and charismatic performer. He proudly embraces his Saudi-Ecuadorian heritage and has become a trilingual trailblazer of the TikTok generation, perhaps best exemplified by lo-fi chillhop debut “Arabian Knights,” in which he sings in English, Spanish, and Arabic. “From the places I’ve seen and the people I’ve met, what I’ve learned is that we are far more similar than we are different,” the artist tells Vogue Man Arabia. “We are all humans with feelings and stories. Some stories and feelings transcend backgrounds – those are the ones I aim to capture in my craft.”