‘À Nous’
Lea Makhoul ft. Anthony Touma
Two of Lebanon’s hottest young pop stars team up to great effect on this earworm sung mostly in French, with some English, blending Makhoul’s composition and Touma’s lyrics — and their complementary voices — for a song that, according to Makhoul, shows that “ego, in any relationship, can ruin a beautiful story.”
‘The Heart of Them’
Mohammad Ahmed Fikree
Emirati filmmaker Fikree just dropped the trailer for his upcoming animated feature — set for release at the end of the year — the culmination of seven years’ work. It’s the story of two sisters — the last humans — and their attempts “to reverse the destruction caused by their ancestors.”
‘Para Para’
DB Gad
The first major-label release from the Egyptian R&B and hip-hop artist and music producer is an Arabic rap track — with a trap beat — about falling in love. “Falling in love is beautiful,” Gad says in a press release. “Loving is crazy — it’s almost like you’re ready to jump into the ocean without a parachute.” Why you’d need a parachute in the ocean isn’t immediately clear.
‘Dream a Little Dream’
Luiza Formenius
Say this for the Stockholm-born, Dubai-based soprano: She doesn’t lack nerve. This classic track has already been covered more than 60 times — so if you’re going to take it on, you’d better be good. Formenius has gone for a modern crossover version, showcasing her soaring vocals over a “bouncy, almost tropical, bassline.”
