It’s another sizzling day in Benghazi, and Egyptian MC Marwan Moussa just touched down. With only a handful of hours left before he brings his own heat to the stage for his Libya debut, the entire city is on edge, thrilled at the idea of finally seeing the self-proclaimed “world champion” (batal 3alam) live. Although he seemed slightly fatigued— the life of an artist on the move is anything but easy, we suppose— the Cairo-born artist still appeared grateful to perform where his heat-map has so far pointed blank. And as Libya begins to open its doors to the world, welcoming a cultural renaissance, Moussa scored an invitation he simply couldn’t turn down.
“When I got my invite, I was excited because I always want to perform in different parts of the Arab world, especially those I’ve never been to before,” Moussa shared with MILLE after his official press conference. “Singing on this side of the world feels like a real achievement, and the reception so far has made me feel at home. Performing in the region, you experience a different level of hospitality, and the interactions with organizers and audiences feel much more genuine, which has once again been the case since I got here,” he added.
While some artists would certainly feel a level of apprehension to perform in a country that was once closed off, Moussa dismissed the typical tropes associated with Libya with a refreshingly nonchalant attitude. He argued that navigating such narratives is a different experience for someone from the region. To him, these stereotypes have less impact when you’re embedded in a similar context as your regional neighbors compared to when you’re an outside.
“These narratives of war and issues about safety, within the Arab world at least, are not as intense as they are in the West or elsewhere. Take Lebanon, for instance, that’s been attacked recently. Best believe that if you ask any random Egyptian whether he’d like to go to Beirut sometime in the next few weeks, he won’t think twice,” Moussa asserts. “Some out there would argue that Egypt is just as dangerous, if not more, when it isn’t. I feel like us Arabs don’t give it the same importance,” he said, expanding on the importance of carrying a nuanced understanding of the news and what is being said about any country. “Now that the situation is fine in Libya, I’m happy to be part of those that will try to change how people view the country,” he added.
The last time we caught up with Moussa, he was in the thick of Spotify Arabia’s Melouk El Scene campaign. Fast forward two-years, and he appears to be comfortably settled into his success, seemingly not overwhelmed nor underwhelmed by the achievements made since then. While he remained modest about his progress, his recent work, including the now-classic single Battle 3alam, has not only reinforced his position as a regional powerhouse but also hinted at things shifting as time goes by and life continues to unfold.
@milleworlddotcom ‘BATAL 3ALAM’ BY @marwanmoussaa LIVE FROM #BENGHAZI #LIBYA FEATURING @AFROTO | عفروتو ♬ original sound – milleworlddotcom
“I don’t think I’ve been overly productive over the past two years,” Moussa reflected. “Last year, I released one album and one EP. This year, I’m working on a new album. I think that this pace is normal—it’s not too much. If I need to take some time for myself, I will. If not, I’m ready to keep going,” he continued.
“There’s been loads of changes in my personal life that have influenced how I now make music, what I sing about, and even pushed me to shift my persona,” Moussa revealed before explaining that is also a natural process in the career trajectory of an artist. “My age and how I experience life as I get older obviously play a huge role in this evolution. I believe things will become clearer in a couple of months,” the 29-year-old mused.
Aside from his recent Libya debut, the Egyptian hitmaker is currently in the midst of rolling out his third studio album, an ambitious project that will unfold in five chapters, each with three songs. Set to be one of his most daring works yet, the forthcoming opus aims to explore the five stages of grief, starting with denial— the title of its first chapter— which was released this month. Reflecting one of the significant personal changes he’s recently experienced, Moussa took the time to elaborate on two key aspects he hopes listeners will focus on while streaming the album once it’s all out.
“The next album will be centered around the concept of the ‘five stages of grief.’ When you lose someone, you go through these five phases, and I wanted to give each phase its due focus without overwhelming listeners,” he explained.
That said, while he’s committed to honoring his grieving process with the depth he believes it deserves, this step-by-step rollout seems designed to offer a meticulously curated experience to listeners—one that’s more digestible and that avoids overwhelming them with a flood of content and an avalanche of emotions.
“I come from an era when we’d buy a CD or a tape and savor it track-by-track. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that age anymore,” Moussa acknowledged. “I can’t drop a 15-track album and expect listeners to listen to it from top to finish. And I can’t blame them as I often find myself skimming through projects myself. I’m the same. If someone tells me, ‘Marwan, your favorite artist is releasing 18 tracks all at once,’ I’ll be the first to struggle getting through it. But if they say they’re releasing two new songs tomorrow, I’ll dive right in and give it the attention it deserves. It’s just the pace of today’s world—we’re inundated with content, so you have to keep that in mind,” he noted, recognizing the need to adapt to the modern landscape of the region’s music industry.
Even with new music dropping, we couldn’t help but wonder what’s next for him, particularly with his noteworthy relationship with fellow Egyptian MC Afroto. Without giving too much away, he teased that their bond extends beyond just professional circles. And yes, as many have speculated, a collaborative project could one day materialize.
“Afroto and I are linked by a lot of things, and it’s not just music. It goes beyond that, which obviously impacts our respective sounds and catalogs,” he shared. “We always talk about releasing a project together, hopefully it comes soon. We’re just waiting for the right time for it.”
Picture by @maromeem
