Creating Peace From Music With Tamtam

“My goal is to keep creating music and expanding my musical family.”

Photography by Yanin Varela

Transcending boundaries of the Middle East’s music scene, Los Angeles and Riyadh-based Saudi singer-songwriter Tamtam has never let her foot off the gas. In her latest single, "LIARS CAN'T HIDE," she challenges her music journey as she delves into lyrics that are both Spanish and English for the first time in her career.

As a Saudi artist, Tamtam sheds light on her challenges and celebrations through sound. In 2022, she was one of the three female artists who sang the official anthem for the Coca-Cola Fifa World Cup alongside Egyptian artist Felukah and Mexican pop star Danna Paola. She also wrapped her first MENA tour in December 2022 and was one of the first regional artists to perform at Formula 1 in Jeddah in March 2023.

We sat down with Tamtam to discuss her inspirations, challenges, and goals as a rising female Middle Eastern artist facing societal challenges and exploring her divine femininity.

Speaking to 1202 MAGAZINE about her early inspirations to start making music, Tamtam shares that, "Other than my love for music and the freedom and peace I feel when I sing, going against the grain of what society deems ‘normal’ is what got me into writing songs." She started writing music when she was 13 years old and finally connected with her writing at 17 when she wrote her single ‘Little Girl.’ Tamtam recalls, "The people around me didn't quite buy into my music dreams at the time. I felt like they just saw me as this little girl with some far-fetched ambition. That's why I wrote that song."

Further, Tamtam's Middle Eastern culture has shaped her music since she began creating music. She recalls, "When I started my journey in music as an Arab woman from Saudi, there was this push to have my voice heard, especially singing in English, which wasn't the norm." She shares that her single "Gender Game" refers to overcoming the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves and realizing that we hold the power to permit ourselves to do what we love.

Photography by Yanin Varela

Her inspirations include classic Middle Eastern "artists such as Fairuz and Umm Kulthoum, to the fresh faces like Felukah and Nadine El Roubi." She also sees her parents as a significant inspiration in her life. Tamtam says, "My father is so hardworking and never gives up, and my mom is the most patient person I've ever met. Whenever I feel like I'm going through a challenging time, I remember my dad's persistence and my mom's patience. That really helps me keep going." This year, Tamtam was influenced by the depth and beauty of her own culture and decided to release Arabic songs.

In speaking to Tamtam about her music's themes, she explains, "I aim for my music to empower people. I want listeners to reconnect with their own strength, to realize it's theirs alone, and not to give it to anyone else. They hold immense power and control over their lives and choices. The rest lies in surrendering to life and letting it unfold." "LIARS CAN'T HIDE" explores the transformative power of embracing pain and shaping it into something beautiful. Tamtam says that the song "is probably the most brutally honest piece I've ever written. It's born from a place of deep disappointment after trusting someone wholeheartedly, only to be let down." She is immensely grateful that music has become her lifeline and allows her to turn her pain into art.

As a female Middle Eastern artist, Tamtam emphasizes that "my goal is to keep creating music and expanding my musical family. Every supporter and fan holds a special place in my heart, and I'm thankful for each connection to my songs. Above all, I want to always find joy in what I do. That's how I know it's authentic, and as long as I stay true to myself and enjoy the journey, things will fall into place." She looks forward to the day she performs in stadiums worldwide to share beautiful moments with her biggest supporters. 

With her career on an exponential rise, Tamtam is expected to drop music every month, release an album in early 2025, and perform in the Middle East, the U.S., and Mexico City.