Each Measure Feature: Mulahbae

FEATURE

I wonder for how much longer we get to enjoy discovering the unexpected gems from the 2020 Covid-quarantine-inspired wave of original music? Jad Toufik Sadik, also known as mulahbae, is one such artist whose first album is a great testament to the ways creativity can be released under unexpected circumstances. In true dark pop fashion, soft and whispery yet fierce vocals meet the seductive shadows of electronic soundscapes with noisy beats, glimmering synths, and the occasional flicker of an industrial hardness. Mulahbae’s expansive use of sound has that effortless eclecticism that strikes a unique edge. Now, four years after their exciting debut, they continue to gain magnetic momentum as a captivating new artist. 

Dark vines of jealousy, passion, and the madness of lust twist around mulahbae’s hot latest single, Destructive. The pulse of this song emulates that of a crowded, sweaty dance floor and the truths discovered from the sheer phenomenon of slick bodies and sustained stares. The lyrical poetry of this song dives right into the dark side of passion, painting us a picture of someone revealing all their secrets to their lover while shouting in their sleep… “Don’t you really know I got demons? I know all the secrets you’re keeping…” Matched with the strobing electronic effects, mulahbae’s voice becomes an ethereal presence vibrating with emotion. A second vocal rhythm joins in like a flipbook of visceral images, “soaking wet, ocean drips, tequila kisses, bruising lips” in a chantlike state. The effect is both haunting and beautiful, a gorgeous blend of textures swirling into a powerful blend that seems exactly as the feelings they express: dangerous and yet undeniably sexy.

Maybe the unique blend of sounds in this track is a direct result of Sadik’s diverse creative outlets. The Lebanese artist also holds a BA in fashion design and pattern making, a testament to their talent for expressive and synesthetic lyrics. To think that despite its clean sound, the track has somewhat of a complicated past with three distinct demo tracks speckled since its original generation a few years back. Patience is rewarded with a distinct and clean track, a perfect lead to the upcoming album MYTHOMANIA. I hopefully won’t be listening to this album; I’ll be dancing to it instead.

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