Not to sound like a music snob, but there’s a certain satisfaction that comes with discovering an artist before everyone else starts pretending they’ve been listening to them for years. And while North Africa has already given the world its fair share of stars, there’s an entire crop of artists currently sitting on the edge of a breakthrough.
For a region whose
musical exports are often reduced to either raï and, more recently, rap, pop—despite its enormous popularity—rarely gets the same level of attention. This is strange when you consider that some of North Africa’s most exciting artists operate squarely within the genre, even if they’re stretching its definition far beyond radio-friendly formulas.
Some lean fully into the genre, while others only borrow from it, but either way, we’d suggest getting familiar with them now, before someone inevitably starts referring to them as “the next big thing.” Below, eight North African pop artists
we have a feeling won’t stay under the radar for much longer.
MAO (Morocco)
Tracks to check out: SOLARR / HEALING / NUMBERZZ
DALIA KHALI (Algeria/Tunisia)
Tracks to check out: PLAYBOY SECRET
PINK SEASALT (Egypt)
Tracks to check out: 3ALA TOUL / SHEREET KHARBAN / YEMKEN
LHAJ (Morocco)
Tracks to check out: LPLAZA / DENBI ANA / 13
JUNO (Egypt)
Tracks to check out: COLOURED MIND / POWER OF SHE / STARBUST
OXOR (Morocco)
Tracks to check out: SININ / YOUM WARA YOUM / YA OMRI
LAYAL (Egypt)
Tracks to check out: LOVE TKO / FANANA / AHLAMY
HIBA (Tunisia)
Tracks to check out: DIASPORATZ / MASTER DEGREE / JBV