What does it mean for an Arab singer shaped by classical and sacred traditions to pivot into popular music?

In a region where audiences stay fiercely loyal to the artists they grew up with and the sounds that shaped them, Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme is testing whether that pivot can happen on her own terms – embracing a contemporary pop sound while holding on to the sophistication that first set her apart.

Nehme’s decision to expand rather than retain is more instinctive than commercial. “I am still trying to understand if it was a fear I was trying to break or curiosity I was trying to satisfy,” she says from Beirut.

Pyjama top and skirt, prices on request, both from Prada

“But an artist or, really, any creative person thrives by being adventurous, and I thought it was time to stretch out, show people and myself that I am not one who can be put in only one place. So now, I want to embrace everything: different songs, music videos. I want to do it all and maybe show others that you can do this without sacrificing any of your integrity.”

The rewards have matched the risks. Nehme is experiencing the most successful period of her nearly two-decade career, sparked by the 2022 release of Bi Saraha. That single, followed by Men Baadak and Sadde’ni Nsitak, has amassed about 100 million YouTube streams and repositioned her as a top-tier artist – drawing in new li