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“I think Saudi Arabia should stop spending millions on Western artists,” declares singer-songwriter Mishaal Tamer. “We have art here. We have Saudi art. We don’t need that.” At the age of 24, Mishaal Tamer wears his Saudi heritage like a badge of honour, unflinchingly proud of the Kingdom’s artistic talent. For him, it’s not just about his own music or career; it’s about fostering a cultural movement that puts Saudi artistry on the global stage.
Mishaal’s musical journey began at the age of nine after a broken arm led to nerve damage, leaving the guitar as one of his only forms of entertainment. “Playing the guitar was pretty much physical therapy for me,” he says, gesturing to the scar on his arm. Raised in Jeddah, Mishaal’s influences ranged from icons like Michael Jackson and Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez to the vibrant mix of cultures that characterised his hometown. “I loved growing up in Jeddah,” he reminisces warmly. “There were so many different sounds back then, even underground metal bands. There was everything.” His mixed heritage – half Arab, half Ecuadorian – further enriched his musical style, blending diverse cultural elements from his own household. These influences have resulted in the diverse sonics that Mishaal draws upon today, spanning indie rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, at times singing in English, Arabic, and Spanish.
It wasn’t until the mid to late 2010s that Mishaal began releasing his own music. The announcement of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 in 2016 signalled a cultural shift, placing art, music, and entertainment firmly in the spotlight. It was during this transformative period that Mishaal first made waves with a melancholic clip of his track Can’t Love Myself on Instagram. The post caught the attention of producer Monty Datta, who sampled the song, turning it into a viral hit that spread across the internet like wildfire. “I didn’t even have a proper username,” Mishaal chuckles. “I was just ‘user 123’ or something, but people started remixing it into rap and lo-fi songs, and it grew bigger than I ever imagined.” This unexpected success propelled him into the spotlight, and by 2020, he became the first Saudi artist to sign with a major US label, RCA. “I signed with them just for the visa,” Mishaal quips. “But really, it was surreal because, coming from Saudi, I thought this was impossible.” Since then, his career has soared. He’s opened for major acts like OneRepublic, performed internationally, and headlined his own sold-out show in Saudi Arabia. “Tickets sold out in a day and a half,” he says proudly. “It shows how excited people are to see someone from their own background succeed.”
Despite his success, fans are still eagerly awaiting his debut album. The first chapter of his five-part project, The Deep, was released in 2023, with the full album, Home Is Changing, set to feature 33 tracks, whittled down from an initial 800. Each chapter provides a window into a different part of his psyche, as well as his native Saudi. “The album mirrors my personal growth and everything I’ve been through,” Mishaal explains, “but it’s also about Saudi’s transformation. It’s my story of adolescence, and I think Saudi is going through a similar process.” For Mishaal, the album’s creation has been deeply cathartic, with his songwriting always reflecting his innermost emotions. “This project has been a way for me to express feelings I couldn’t even share with my closest friends,” he admits. “It helped me through some really tough times. Sometimes you can write a song, and you don’t even know what it’s about until you process that experience, sometimes a year later. That happened a lot to me with this album.”
Though Mishaal has had the chance to travel the world thanks to his success, experiencing various cultures, it was his return to Saudi Arabia after time away that provided the most profound inspiration for him and his music. “As an adult, coming back, I saw just how fast everything was changing,” Mishaal reflects. “With the new investment, you have this creative freedom that you never really had before.” Despite 63% of Saudis being under 30 – according to a 2022 census – Mishaal feels there’s “No one speaking” for the youth of his hometown: “It’s crazy that we have all this excitement [around our country], but there still isn’t someone, as young people, that we can really look up to.” But does Mishaal see himself as that voice or feel pressured to take on that role? “I don’t think I can represent anyone but myself,” he replies. “But I’m going to keep talking about [Saudi] because I want everyone where I’m from to succeed, and to know that it’s possible.”
Whenever Mishaal discusses Saudi Arabia, his passion intensifies, at times even more so than when talking about his own music. He’s greatly impressed by the work of the Music Commission, the Ministry of Culture, and hopes that investment in the scene continues to rise. “I think it’s amazing what has been happening the last few years with all the investment,” says Mishaal. “There’s obviously still a long way to go, and it isn’t perfect, but it’s a start.” Meanwhile, as one of the few Saudi artists with a global audience, Mishaal now has the platform to inspire meaningful change himself, challenging the negative perceptions he feels his country has unfairly acquired. “A lot of people have negative views about us that are totally inaccurate,” he insists. “It’s not fair for us. People act like we’re North Korea or something, and I want to help change that. Please stop believing everything you read on the internet; talk to some real people from Saudi.”
With the growing interest and investment in Saudi’s creative industries, Mishaal is overflowing with inspiration. He’s confident that the world will soon discover the immense talent Saudi Arabia has to offer. “When you hold a bar of soap in the shower, the tighter you grip it, the further it flies when it gets the chance,” he says. “That’s how I see our music scene. It’s been bubbling for so long that it’s only a matter of time before it all bursts out at once. I think we’re going to fly. Actually, I know we will fly.” Mishaal’s Arabian heritage is a source of immense pride and is intricately woven into everything he does, not just his music. This was clearly on display at Paris Fashion Week when the artist opted for something traditional over high-end labels. “When we went to Paris, I decided to wear a thobe,” Mishaal recalls. “Everyone was like, ‘What the f*ck is that?’ and they started taking pictures because it was something cool and different. It’s a beautiful item of clothing, and that’s why we all wear it back home. It’s a bit like what I was saying earlier about investing in Saudi art, we should be proud of where we’re from.”
These moments embody what makes Mishaal and his mindset so inspiring. He understands that his story is part of a much larger narrative, and he’s paving the way for younger Saudi artists aspiring to make a career in music. Now an independent artist, working under his own label, Arabian Knights, with distribution from Empire, Mishaal reflects on the experience: “It’s f*cking cool to do everything yourself,” he says. “But I hope other people can see this and be inspired. I know I said the scene was diverse when I was growing up, but it’s on a whole different level now. There are a lot of artists much more talented than me who need to know this is all possible on your own… If I can do it, you definitely can.”
Photography: Vladimir Martí
Creative Direction: Tamim Mortaza
Stylist: Qwan Anthony
Hair Stylist: Sebastian Iskander
Fashion Coordinator: Ali Ammar
Senior Producer: Steff Hawker
Project Coordinator: Chloe Christodoulou
Photography Assistant: Mark Anthony Navarro
Fashion Assistant: Maanoshri Ganguly
Talent: Mishaal Tamer
Words: Chris Saunders
