
47Soul Address Resistance & Exile on ‘Ghost Town'
The song is the second single from their upcoming album 'Dualism Pt. 1'.
Feb 19, 2025
Palestinian band 47Soul has released 'Ghost Town', the second single from their upcoming album 'Dualism Pt. 1'. The track captures themes of loss and resilience, reflecting on the destruction and exile of Gaza's people.
Sung in both English and Arabic, the song mourns the situation in Gaza while highlighting the strength of its people, conveyed through subtle instrumentation and powerful vocal performance by Tarek Abu Kwaik, better known as El Far3i. Inspired by Palestinian journalists who risked their lives to document the genocide in Gaza, 'Ghost Town' also explores the feeling of desolation and the refusal to accept the genocide as a cyclical reality, shedding light on the ongoing narrative of displacement, demolitions, and siege that shape the Palestinian experience.
Known for their dabke-electro fusion, 47Soul's new track follows their previous single, 'Ya Akho', which dropped a month ago. This song, also focused on the Palestinian cause, marked a shift in the band's sound - abandoning the traditional dabke roots in favour of more nuanced, progressive electronic arrangements paired with electric guitar lines and minimal percussion. This fresh direction not only revitalizes the band's music but also amplifies the weight of the messages they deliver, allowing the words and vocals to truly resonate.
'Dualism Pt. 1' is slated for release on May 2nd and will showcase this new sound in full. The album will be the band's first full-length release in five years, following their 2020 album Semitics.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mid East Info
13 hours ago
- Mid East Info
From Abu Dhabi to Amman: District 105 Toastmasters Take the Spotlight at DTAC 2025
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Toastmasters from four countries came together with members from Oman, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, and Palestine in Amman for DTAC 2025, the District 105 Annual Conference. Held under the theme 'Rise to Inspire,' the event showcased the region's dedication to empowering confident communicators and leaders, with strong representation from Abu Dhabi and other regions. The conference was led by TM Mohammed Al-Kiswani and his team in Jordan. With over 250 attendees, the two-day event brought together diverse voices to celebrate courage, connection, and growth. Members shared stories, stepped boldly into the spotlight, and transformed fear into confidence – proving once again the power of Toastmasters to uplift and inspire. Keynote Inspiration One of the featured keynote speakers was Mohammed Murad, DTM from Dubai, a previous International President of Toastmasters International. His thought-provoking session, 'Leadership: Reality or Illusion?' invited attendees to reflect on the essence of authentic leadership, leaving the audience inspired and introspective. Elevating Voices Through Speech Contests Four captivating English contests filled the conference with laughter, insight, and inspiration. The champions who rose to the occasion were: Evaluation Contest Champion – TM Agnik Bose (Oman) – TM Agnik Bose (Oman) Humorous Speech Contest Champion – TM Thomas John (Oman) – TM Thomas John (Oman) Table Topics Contest Champion – TM Krishan Kumar (Oman) – TM Krishan Kumar (Oman) International Speech Contest Champion – TM Rasiah Raslyn Agatha (Abu Dhabi) Running simultaneously, the Arabic Speech Contest showcased District 105's linguistic diversity, reinforcing Toastmasters' commitment to empowering voices in every language and ensuring regional representation across the district. The Defining Moment A deeply moving moment was the recognition of 94-year-old DTM Haifa Al Bashir, honored for 25 years of Toastmasters service. Though she arrived in a wheelchair, her energy lit up the room. With a twinkle in her eye, she declared, 'I came prepared to give a BIG speech,' and delivered one that resonated with every listener. She was joined by fellow Silver Jubilee honorees: TM Mary Shawareb, DTM Haifa Sharaiha, DTM Maisoun Armouti, and TM Raghad Keilani – all celebrated for their lifelong commitment and contributions. Leadership Recognition and Awards District Director Saiju Victor, DTM expressed heartfelt appreciation to all members, clubs, and leaders whose efforts led to District 105 achieving Distinguished District status. He also welcomed the incoming district leaders for the 2025–2026 term. The District Annual Awards honored excellence in Program Quality, Club Growth and Public Relations presented by: Program Quality Director Cyprian Misquith, DTM Club Growth Director Ramanujam Raghavan, DTM Public Relations Manager TM Maria Theresa de Mesa Mendoza Looking Ahead: DTAC 2026 Abu Dhabi The exciting announcement of DTAC 2026 to be held in Abu Dhabi, led by Chair TM Hadi Ali with Toastmasters from Abu Dhabi took the stage in a stunning display of unity. With its cultural richness and innovative spirit, DTAC 2026 promises an immersive and inspiring experience – an event the District is already looking forward to. About District 105 Toastmasters: District 105 is a part of Toastmasters International, supporting members across Oman, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Palestine in developing public speaking and leadership skills. With the District's tagline 'Learn and Enjoy' the district offers a supportive and fun environment for personal and professional growth through the globally recognized Pathways educational program. With a strong focus on integrity, respect, service, and excellence, District 105 empowers individuals to become confident communicators and effective leaders in their communities.


CairoScene
a day ago
- CairoScene
Shabjdeed & Al Nather Reclaim the Crown on New Track ‘MLKRAP'
BLTNM heavyweights Shabjdeed and Al Nather reunite for 'MLKRAP,' a brutal drill track with a glitched-out visual twist. Jun 09, 2025 Palestinian rapper Shabjdeed just dropped a sonic uppercut. Titled 'MLKRAP', and produced by longtime collaborator Al Nather, the track marks a brash, unfiltered return to BLTNM's signature sound: raw, politically defiant, and uncompromising in energy. Released via BLTNM Records, the track came with a video game-inspired visual designed by Legbone, known for his dystopian digital aesthetic. Backed by Al Nather's drill beat, Shabjdeed delivers a fiery monologue that blends street poetry, biting social commentary, and a kind of dark humour. 'ملك لفلو انا ملك الراب' ('My flow is royal, I'm the king of rap'), Shabjdeed growls, delivering the line like a threat and a prophecy. The track moves between personal stakes and national rage, with bars that refuse to be softened. In the music video, Legbone's 3D animation plunges Shabjdeed into a glitchy, game-like world. With digital avatars, collapsing architecture, and surreal symbolism, the video echoes the track's themes of resistance through chaos.


Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
The moral high ground
A few months into the war on Gaza, following the 7 October attacks, I found myself like everyone else, glued to the news around the clock, watching non-stop the horror coming out of Gaza. One night, as the Israeli forces started to bomb Al-Shefa Hospital – a spot I was familiar with, having developed a bond with the reporter who broadcast from there – I realised that reporter was no longer there. He was not even mentioned. That night was particularly heartbreaking for me. I felt pressure in my head, as if it might literally explode. Waves of anxiety surged through me, along with terrible thoughts, and I had to turn off the television and wander around my house at 2:00am, desperately trying to shift my focus. I remembered that night as I watched the Palestinian documentary A State of Passion – directed by Carol Mansour, a Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker with Palestinian ancestry, and Muna Khalidi, who has a very close friendship with Abu-Sittah – which follows the renowned Palestinian-British plastic and reconstructive surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah when he volunteered to enter Gaza for the sixth time at a time of conflict only to realise that this time it was full-scale genocide. He had never performed this number of amputations on children ever in his life, as he said at one of the most moving moments. At this point, when the film was recently screened at Zawya in the lineup of the Between Women Filmmakers Caravan – an independent initiative organised by a group of female filmmakers and film curators – the Gaza war was already one year and eight months old. Still, I'd missed the first screening of the film, which made its world premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival, receiving three awards: the top award of the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, the Saadeddin Wahba Award for Best Arabic Film, and the second prize for Best Palestinian Film as well as a Special Mention for Abu-Sittah. After 43 days in Gaza, Abu-Sittah jumped on a plane to Amman to spend 24 hours with Mansour and Khalidi, who had called to request the meeting. As they stated in an online interview with the audience after the screening, the phone call that appears in the film is the real phone call. In Amman, the camera captures the emotions involved in the meeting, which also involves an old friend of Abu-Sittah's and his proud mother, whose favourite son he was, according to the two filmmakers. Mansour and Khalidi accompany Abu-Sittah on a quick visit to Kuwait, where he was raised and where he reminisces about his father, also a doctor, in front of said father's former clinic. Abu-Sittah was born in Kuwait to a Palestinian father and a Lebanese mother. His father's family originated in Maain Abu-Sittah in the southeast of Gaza, which they were forced to flee when the Zionists attacked during the Nakba. They moved to Kuwait and later to the United Kingdom in the 1980s and Abu-Sittah eventually realised his father's dream by studying medicine at Glasgow University. The documentary includes some harsh photos of children undergoing surgical procedures, especially when Abu-Sittah is trying to prove that Israel used white phosphorus in their military operations, but such graphic imagery was limited, reflecting the filmmakers' decision to give only a small taste of the horror after they were faced with the predicament of whether and how much to show. Abu-Sittah recalls performing amputations on six children in a single day, and when he elaborates on how complicated the situation is there, he explains that health procedures are based on people directing you to save the life of the only living member of the family or whether a doctor can just clean up a wound that will keep someone alive for a day so as to save a few other lives that require urgent attention. Abu-Sittah made his way to Gaza to treat patients all the way through Rafah many times; his first medical visit to Gaza was during the first Intifada in 1987. He was back during the second Intifada in 2000 and then in the wars of 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021 and finally 2023. Mansour alone accompanies Abu-Sittah to London where he lives with his family: his wife Dima and three sons. Khalidi couldn't go due to complications with her visa. And this is where the documentary becomes a more personal exploration of Abu-Sittah's extraordinary character. When he's not working, he is with his family, a dedicated husband and father whose presence is a delight to them. He is seen ironing his sons' school uniforms and putting together their lunch boxes in the morning. There is a sequence in the 90-minute documentary when we hear the exchange of voice messages between him and his three sons. It is touching how he says good morning to each of them in spite of the horrors he is enduring so many miles away. Dima and Abu-Sittah have a sweet relationship with the Palestinian cause at its core. Dima explains how she took the children to Gaza, showing them every corner of it with a strange presentiment that it might not survive. They went to the beach and visited all the landmarks. Her presentiment was right: they returned on 7 September, exactly a month before the horrific incidents began. When Dima and Abu Sittah were in Gaza, they took along Dima's mother, who needed medical attention in London while her father remained alone, an old man tired of being repeatedly displaced, refusing to leave his house. The mother could not return to Gaza but she has been living in Egypt: she was even present at the screening of the film. When Dima spoke of Palestinian resilience, it rang true in a way it usually doesn't. 'If he hadn't gone to Gaza, I wouldn't have known how to maintain my respect for him,' she also said of Abu-Sittah, who, for his part, said they were both so clear about his need to be there, the decision didn't even have to be discussed. * A version of this article appears in print in the 5 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: