Etaf is a talented Kuwaiti singer-songwriter with Palestinian and Lebanese heritage, recognized for her unique style as a multi-instrumentalist. After moving to the UK to pursue a master’s and PhD in law, she discovered her true passion in music and is now fully dedicated to her musical career. Etaf sings and raps in both Arabic and English, crafting songs that defy traditional structure and lean more toward storytelling. Blending various influences to create her own genre, Etaf’s journey from law to music reflects her deep love for the craft and her innovative approach to songwriting, as told to Kuwait Times.
Kuwait Times: When did you start writing songs, and which instruments do you play?
Etaf: I’m a multi-instrumentalist. I play the oud, guitar, piano and other random instruments. I started professionally writing songs and releasing them two years ago. Initially, I was just a composer for other lyricists and singers. I would create the music and melody for their songs. I then transitioned into writing my own songs and performing them on stages across the UK.
KT: Is there one incident in your life that had a significant impact on you and your music?
Etaf: I can’t point to one specific incident that had a significant impact on me and my music. It’s more that we live under systems of oppression that are harmful and impact us all in different ways. When I write my music, I find myself expressing the frustration of these systems. I articulate the narratives and social norms that are frustrating and challenge the reality we live in. Everything is political - even my love songs are political to me.
KT: How would you describe your music, and how have your cultural roots influenced it?
Etaf: I sing and rap in Arabic and English, and I’m creating my own genre with my current producer, Eve Singleton. Imagine melancholic Arabic vocals with East London fast street beats, harmonies, live instrumentation like bass guitar, piano and a darbuka. That’s the vibe in ‘Small Details’, my latest song. I don’t tend to follow traditional structures in my songs; they’re more like storytelling. I have a story to tell, and I like to tell it in my own way.
KT: Have you written any songs specifically for Palestine? If so, why, and how has the Palestinian cause impacted your music?
Etaf: I wrote a song called ‘Taboot’ for my grandmother, who was born in Gaza. When I visited Kuwait just after the genocide, I met with my grandmother, Etaf, and felt her pain and grief. The song is about her pain as well as my own pain from seeing my people suffer. I recorded the song in Kuwait at Hessa Alhumaidi’s studio (The Sununu Project), co-produced and mastered by Mohammad Alowaisi, whom my friend and colleague, social media strategist Ghadeer Ali (Founder of @Waha.KW), introduced me to. I performed ‘Taboot’ live across London, and I love how my audience and I end it by singing ‘Free Palestine’ together.
KT: Your song ‘Small Details’ speaks about women’s struggles in the Arab world. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?
Etaf: What I really care about in my practice is change, impact and empowerment in the community. ‘Small Details’ is about the patriarchy and oppressive systems in general, and their impact on us. The ‘small details’ of how we are oppressed - they’re only ‘small’ in the sense that they often go unnoticed, but they’re significant and harmful. I articulate what female oppression looks like in practice and how much control there is over our movements, bodies, gender expression, visibility and so on. This song criticizes the reality we live in and aims to empower my people and the community, telling them that we can and should continue to resist through love, hope and pleasure.
KT: Have you faced any specific challenges as an Arab and Palestinian artist in the UK music scene, and how have you overcome them?
Etaf: The music industry in general is tough to break into, and opportunities are extremely competitive. However, the more intersectional it is, the harder it gets. White privilege and white supremacy are real and have impacted me and my music journey. As an Arab AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), I feel like I have to work incredibly hard to receive the global recognition I want and deserve. Being an independent Arabic AFAB artist means I have to fight to secure performing opportunities at international festivals and radio shows, or to have my music featured in global magazines without having to pay (because it’s unethical to pay).