Summer is here and in full swing, and Moroccan-American artist Abir is claiming the season as her own with her latest music video ‘Inferno’.
Shot in the midst of Marrakech’s desert dunes, the young Moroccan-born, New York City-based singer made it a point to showcase her Arab heritage. As the first release of her upcoming EP ‘HEAT’, ‘Inferno’ has set the tone: Abir solidified her position as an unapologetically Arab and Muslim woman in an industry that has rarely been welcoming.
The 26-year-old first made a name for herself with her impeccable vocals in her hit songs “Tango” and “Young & Rude”, each counting views and streams in the millions. With ‘Inferno’, Abir paved a lane of her own, where being a female Arab singer in the West doesn’t require compromise—a standard that Arab-American men have rarely been held to, with French Montana and DJ Khaled’s successes being proof of that.
“As an artist, my mission is to explore that duality by disrupting and challenging the stereotypes and narratives of Arab Muslim women in today’s world,” the singer explained to V Magazine.
And by shooting the video in her home country, Morocco, Abir took complete hold of her identity. “I shot the ‘Inferno’ music video in Marrakech with an all Arab cast and crew, just a few days before the world shut down” she explained. “I still have to pinch myself every time I watch it and thank God for allowing me the privilege to create in my homeland.”
