Sounds of Saudi: Nourah Alammary

Discussing the Past, Present & Future of Music in Saudi Arabia

Areeb Al-Shathri

06 April 23

Editor Areeb Al-Shathri writes about her personal connection and the memories associated with Saudi music; from traditional sounds to modern music. And, chats to Nourah Alammary about how she fell into music.

There was a time when people would dine in restaurants to the sounds of surrounding patrons talking and cutlery clinking; when tapes, CDs, iPods, instruments, and anything music-related were not allowed in schools. It was a time when sharing music was akin to peddling contraband. This was the norm in Saudi until the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016.

Unbeknownst to some, it was also during this time that the kingdom became an unlikely hotspot for musicians and artists in the region.

The 1970s Sahwa Movement marked a distinct end to a cultural and musical rise that previously peaked in the 1960s with the establishment of the Saudi military band.

Up until the '70s, Saudi television would air the music and performances of local folk bands and singers, however the Sahwa Movement, ushered in a decades-long cessation of musical development in the country — at least publicly — and pushed music into the underground.

So, what happens when music is muted? Of course, music still exists and during this cessation, music was still passed on in the form of records, tapes, and CDs between family and friends, and of course remained available on cable TV and later the internet. Music was also still enjoyed in jalsat (Khaleeji musical gatherings), on special occasions, and in private.

Growing up, I was only exposed to what my family was listening to. This ranged from sheilat (song-like poetry recitations) that my dad would play in his car, to bootleg recordings of Michael Jackson’s music: our musical selection was limited to whatever found its way into our home.

Record stores didn't exist, or were at least difficult to find. There was no where to discover new music or artists, or listen to live music. Album covers were often altered with black marker — or silver and gold if the censors were fancy — to adhere to local customs of the time.

Then how did we get here today — open mic nights, concerts, live music at restaurants, and the biggest electronic music festival in the region? The answer is: little by little in the beginning, and then all at once.

Simply put — music is uncontainable.

Nourah Alammary

Nourah Alammary was the first person I’d ever met who performed on stage in the kingdom. Her brother, Ahmad “Baloo” Alammary, is also into music and is recognised as one of Saudi’s best DJs, and has become a driving force behind music festival, MDLBEAST.

As a child, Nourah dreamed of being a famous singer, however this dream began to fade when she realised the growing stigma Saudi society was developing regarding the arts, and she eventually replaced her dream with a more societally acceptable goal.

But, the music still called.

After many back and forths, almosts and not quites, it was in New York during her Master's Degree where she realised her happiness was intrinsically linked to music. With this in mind, Nourah found a music coach and once again began to hone her musical skills, mostly for her personal development.

After returning Saudi, Nourah met Sean Carey, who would later become the other half of The Duo, a musical twosome. The two would often jam together, simply for the love of music, and after performing with Sean at an underground gig in a compound, Nourah realised there was an appetite for music in Saudi, and she was hooked on the feeling of sharing a moment with an audience.

The Duo (Nourah & Sean) performed underground from 2017 to 2019. When the country’s General Entertainment Authority announced permits for events and live music, Nourah was encouraged to create a public Instagram account and post whatever performances The Duo had planned. After that, booking requests started coming in, and the musicians jumped at every opportunity to perform.

“... If you love it enough and think it brings you joy, and see
that it brings joy to others, then that’s the gift you’re meant
to share from God.”
Nourah Alammary

Throughout COVID-19, Nourah performed via Instagram Live. This reached a peak when she was invited to perform at Soundstorm 2021, accompanied by The Nice Band and cheered on by her siblings in the crowd. Since then, Nourah has turned her focus towards creating original music, collaborating with other local and international musicians, and is working on putting together a new band.

The Present

The music community in Saudi today has formed in a way that is distinctly unique to its history, experiences, and trajectory. Because its existence was forced underground, music lovers had to really work for it. “I remember there was only one shop that sold music in Riyadh, and I had to get someone else to go in for me because girls weren’t allowed,” laughed Nourah. These conditions cultivated a real thirst for music.