This episode is about music — but also about something deeper: identity, belonging, and being seen. I sat down with Danny Hajjar, a brilliant music journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone MENA, who’s been amplifying the voices of Arab artists across the Middle East, North Africa, and the global diaspora. He’s written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and GQ Middle East, and is the co-host the Shik Shak Shook Ones podcast on the Afikra network. We talk about the rise of Arabic music, what it really means to represent a culture, and why sometimes, telling your story is the most powerful thing you can do.

00:00 Intro

01:43 Danny Hajjar’s Hot Takes: Speed Round

07:55 How to Get a Music Journalist’s Attention

10:18 Why Now Is the Moment for Arabic Music

22:03 Arabic Music: What’s Working vs What’s Not

25:40 Mohamed Ramadan, Coachella, and Using Your Platform to Speak Up

33:30 When Identity Becomes the Story: Is That Enough?

35:45 Star Academy, Arabic Dialects, and Remembering Massari

45:43 Underrated Arabic Artists You Need to Hear 🎧

49:25 Advice for Artists

I sat down with journalist Samira Mohyeddin to talk about how Western media straight-up lies — not just about Iran, but about the entire Middle East, from Palestine to Iraq. We get into the "playbook": how narratives are crafted, who benefits, and why “freedom” is only allowed when it fits their agenda. From Zionist Iranians to foreign interference, Samira breaks down why true liberation for Iranians won’t come from the West — it has to come from within.

****Our guest today***Samira Mohyeddin is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian journalist, radio producer, and one of the most fearless voices challenging mainstream narratives on the Middle East. Samira is also the founder of On The Line Media,.

What does it mean to find your voice — and use it to create change?In today’s episode of Yalla! Let’s Talk., I sit down with Tunisian artist EMEL, a singer, songwriter, and storyteller whose music has inspired people across the world. From her breakout anthem “Kelmti Horra” — once banned, now a symbol of hope — to her powerful new album MRA, EMEL shares her journey of turning pain into purpose.We talk about what freedom really means, how music can be a form of healing, and what it looks like to embrace feminism in an authentic way. With stories from her performances across over 25 countries — EMEL reminds us that art can connect us, empower us, and help us feel seen.This is a conversation about growth, creativity, and standing in your truth — even when the world tells you not to.

BREAKDOWN

0:00 Intro

0:53 The Song That Sparked a Revolution – “Kelmti Horra” & the Arab Spring

8:20 What It’s Like Growing Up Under a Dictatorship (Tunisia Unfiltered)

12:37 EMEL Performs “Kelmti Horra” Live + What the Lyrics Really Mean

17:54 Her Childhood, Her Father, and the Fire to Fight Oppression

20:43 Balancing Motherhood & Music – Advice for Working Moms

27:09 How EMEL Makes Music That Heals and Protests at the Same Time

31:38 Feminism & Power – Why She Chose an All-Female Creative Team

42:42 HOLM, Al Rawabi & The Powerful Message EMEL Has for Young Girls

58:27 Rapid Games!