Single Review: Hamza Namira – Empty Words by Mulla268

This review is one of our entries for the special best reviewers competition we’re running as part of the Leicester ArtBeat Festival 2016. Check it out and enter – there’s still time!

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Hamza Namira is a very unique artist, and that’s one of the reasons why I like his music so much. He’s also extremely thoughtful, and this is evident when you listen to his song ‘Ay Kalam’, which is Arabic for ‘Empty Words’. His genre is Arabic Pop, which makes use of very classical instruments, and ‘Ay Kalam’ is full of traditional sounds common in Arabic music.

One of the reasons why the song is so interesting is that it’s very vague in its subject matter. It’s about someone who’s been asked a question that saddens him and triggers a massive reflection on what it is that’s put him into his current state of depression. The fact that it could be about literally anything means that anyone can find it relatable, an extremely clever tactic.

Single Review: Hamza Namira – Empty Words

The lyrics are poetic and have an air of contemplation about them, and the opening is slow and sad, which adds to the atmosphere. The pace quickly picks up, but the song always maintains a melancholy undertone, and the lyrics are always extremely subtle, which gives the impression that there’s a story behind the song (rather than the song being the story). I really like that because it invokes thoughtfulness in the reader. The instrumentals are gentle and peaceful, and they perfectly compliment the poetic and reflective style of the lyrics.

The third verse becomes more hopeful in its lyrics, which is effective because it raises your spirits and tells you; “don’t be sad”. The chorus is particularly amazing, because the song changes from the singer talking about his state of depression to him bemoaning the world for being so harsh on him, asking questions like, “Which of us is abusing who? Have we wronged you, O world, in any way?” It really allows the listener to empathise with him and share in his pain and reproachfulness.

Namira has a very distinctive voice

Hamza Namira has a very distinctive voice, and the weary and spent manner in which he sings makes him seem as though he’s actually experienced everything that causes him to sing this, which injects a dose of sincerity and personality to the song. You can tell that he himself has written, and completely understands and means, every word.

In conclusion, I congratulate Hamza Namira on this incredible piece of music. ‘Ay Kalam’ is made up of an intriguing blend of depression, reflection, reproachfulness and hope that is well worth listening to. It’s all great stuff, and to be honest I can’t fault any of it, so it’s a 10/10 from me.