Ismak, the forthcoming EP from emerging Saudi-born and Los Angeles-based artist Tamtam, is set for release in 2022. In anticipation, Tamtam debuted the EP’s title track alongside a new video.
‘‘Ismak’ is about the power that comes with loving every part of myself, including my strengths and my flaws,” says Tamtam. “‘Ismak’ means ‘your name’ in the masculine form in Arabic. Our name is a huge part of our identity, and in this song, I am speaking to the feminine and masculine parts of myself. I am proud to be Saudi and proud to have Syrian roots. I wanted this song to represent those parts of me.”
“Art and creativity has been heavily encouraged here in Saudi Arabia lately and I couldn’t be any more enthusiastic about that. I’ve been getting a lot of opportunities from this side of the world so I decided to spend a lot of my time here.”
“Growing up here in Saudi I was immersed in traditional music constantly. Arabic music from Egypt and Lebanon as well as Saudi is very popular and such a big part of our culture. However, as a teenager I would migrate to the West with my mind quite a bit. I remember my friends and I getting together to watch MTV and obsess over the Spice Girls. It was almost a way for us to feel ‘cool’ and be a part of mainstream culture.”
Tamtam absorbed every aspect of music, art and entertainment from both Western and Middle Eastern culture and created her own brand of music, perfectly represented by her forthcoming debut EP in which she explores the full spectrum of her identity as she creates a cohesive statement on modern womanhood.
“The intro is chanted in a Saudi accent, and the chorus of the song is in a Syrian accent. I am also embracing the Western parts of myself in this song since I’ve always been inspired by English music growing up, and I’ve been living in California since high school. I hope ‘Ismak’ inspires you to honor every part of your identity and your roots, as far and wide as they may go.”
Directed by Belgian collective Bleu Nuit, the video uses the music to accompany a group of women dancing the Ardah, a traditional Saudi sword dance.
“Traditionally, men hold swords and do this chant as they dance,” furthers Tamtam. “It’s usually done before a battle, or to celebrate a victory. We used that melody, but on ‘Ismak’ we have women chanting it instead of men. And the lyrics are more about love—and the war that comes with love, or with loving something.”
“If I were to describe this record with one word I would say ‘Identity.’ Sometimes when I work on a project I only realize what it is all about after I listen back to the final result. I remember recording the melody and as Iwas singing in English I felt like something was not quite fitting in so I started singing in Arabic and everything felt just right. Ultimately, I think this record is the culmination of all my influences and cultural backgrounds. It’s the result of the amalgamation of all the different places I’ve been physically and spiritually.”
Singing in both English and Arabic, Tamtam draws influences from Western pop artists like Lana Del Rey and Banks as well as Arabic vocalists like Warda Al-Jazairia. With Ismak, Tamtam channels her modern pop influences in tandem with a worldwide group of collaborators, including Moroccan A&R and creative director Mohamed Sqalli, producer Malca, Belgian video production collective Bleu Nuit and Milan-based photographer Szilveszter Mako.
“I grew up in Saudi Arabia, and I’m still in touch with my Saudi roots,” states Tamtam. “My family is there. I go there every year. We wanted this EP to represent all the different places that I’m from.”
