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Nooriyah

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki



Nooriyah
BornRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • Audio producer
  • Radio host
  • Curator
Years active2017–present
Associated acts

Nooriyah is a Saudi-born, UK-based DJ, audio producer, radio host, and curator known for her genre-blurring sets that fuse SWANA (South West Asian and North African) sounds with global club genres, including baile funk, amapiano, afrobeats, dancehall, dabke, and mahraganat.[1][2] Raised in Saudi Arabia and Japan, and now based in London, she has gained international acclaim for her work as a musical archivist, highlighting SWANA influences in global pop through viral social media series and her event collective, Middle of Nowhere.[3][4] Nooriyah has been featured on the covers of DJ Mag (January 2025), Notion, and in publications like Mixmag, Dazed MENA, and Metal Magazine, and was named DJ Mag's 2024 Future Star.[2][5][6]

Early life

Nooriyah was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Bahraini parents and raised primarily in Japan before settling in London, United Kingdom, over a decade ago.[7][4] Her multicultural upbringing exposed her to diverse musical influences, including SWANA music through her father’s oud playing, classical flute training, and Japanese bitcore from video games.[8][3] Her father’s influence introduced her to Arabic scales, particularly Maqam Bayati, which she associates with "vitality, joy, and femininity."[8] She balanced her early music career with a full-time role in public health, which informed her advocacy for accessibility in music spaces.[1][9]

Career

Radio and early career

Nooriyah began her music career in 2017 as a radio host at Reprezent Radio, later securing residencies at Westside Radio, Balamii, Radar Radio, Foundation FM, NTS Radio, and Plus 1 Radio, where she championed SWANA music and underrepresented sounds.[10][11] Her radio shows, blending dabke, mahraganat, hip hop, and R&B, gained attention for their cultural depth and accessibility, earning her a dedicated following.[1][11][12] In 2021, she produced a BBC Radio 4 documentary, presented by Nabihah Iqbal, exploring musical traditions and technology’s impact on music biodiversity, critiquing Western-centric production software.[10][9][4]

DJ career and Middle of Nowhere

Nooriyah transitioned to DJing after practicing on radio station decks, debuting with vibrant sets that weave SWANA music with global club sounds like baile funk, amapiano, and Jersey club.[1][2][13] Her 2021 Instagram series, "Arabic Samples in Western Music," went viral, analyzing samples by artists like Jay-Z, Aaliyah, and Timbaland from Arabic tracks by Abdel Halim Hafez and Warda, sparking discussions on cultural appropriation.[3][7][6] The series, amassing millions of views, established her as a musical archivist.[4][3]

In 2022, Nooriyah founded Middle of Nowhere, a London-based SWANA-focused event collective amplifying underrepresented artists and blending genres like Arabic rap and reggaeton.[9][4][6] Its debut Boiler Room set in 2022, featuring her father on oud and opening with the Palestinian solidarity anthem "Dammi Falastini," achieved over 1 million streams in three months, marking the UK’s first SWANA-focused Boiler Room.[9][3][13] The set, with artists like Pekodjin and Saliah, was lauded for its cultural resonance and high energy.[3][6][14]

Nooriyah has performed at major festivals, including Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, A Thousand And One Festival, Soundstorm, Marrakech Air Festival, and EartH, and sold out headline shows at Jazz Cafe, Colour Factory, and Corsica Studios in London.[9][4][13][14] Her 2023 Middle of Everywhere European tour included performances at Nitsa Club (Barcelona) and Berghain (Berlin), cementing her global presence.[9][2][12] In 2025, she headlined a DJ Mag Presents party in London with Mahnoor and Shadobeni, blending SWANA, Caribbean, and UK sounds.[15] Her sets, often transitioning from Hisham Abbas to DJ Snake, are described as “exhilarating and educational.”[13][6]

Advocacy and cultural impact

Nooriyah is a vocal advocate for diversity in dance music, particularly for women of color and SWANA artists.[1][7][12] She has hosted DJ workshops for underrepresented women in London and Riyadh, supported by MDLBEAST, and curated stages for Middle of Nowhere, including a 2023 female rap cypher featuring Arabic and Darija artists.[1][13][14] Her work challenges Western-centric dance music narratives, highlighting SWANA influences in global pop.[2][3] In 2023, she joined artists like Massive Attack and Brian Eno in signing an open letter urging Field Day to address ethical concerns with its parent company.[16] Her 2024 DJ Mag Future Star award and 2025 DJ Mag cover recognized her role in reshaping global club culture.[2][5]

Media and endorsements

Nooriyah has been featured on the covers of DJ Mag (January 2025), Notion, and in Mixmag, Dazed MENA, Metal Magazine, and SceneNoise.[5][1][4][6] Her 2023 Mixmag Impact mix and Resident Advisor “Mix Of The Day” showcased her genre-spanning style, blending Jersey club, baile funk, and Arabic classics.[1][17] She has collaborated with MDLBEAST on festival stages and produced audiovisual projects for film and television.[9][14] Her social media presence, with over 150,000 Instagram followers, amplifies her cultural influence.[6][4]

Personal life

Nooriyah identifies strongly with her Bahraini and Saudi heritage, emphasizing representation for Arab women in nightlife, where cultural taboos persist.[3][7] She balances her music career with a public health role, though she plans to focus solely on music as her schedule grows.[10][1] She resides in London and draws inspiration from her diasporic identity.[2][6]

Discography

As of 2025, Nooriyah has not released original music but is known for her curated DJ mixes and radio shows on SoundCloud, Mixcloud, and Rinse FM.[18][17] She has expressed interest in producing original music, with projects in development.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Mustefa, Zab (16 February 2023). "Nooriyah's culturally diverse DJ sets are enriching the future of dance music". Mixmag. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Nooriyah is the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2024 Future Star winner". DJ Mag. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Nooriyah Brings Arabic Music to the Dance Floor". New Lines Magazine. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Nooriyah: The Sound of Belonging". Notion. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Fielding, Amy (7 January 2025). "Cover Star: Nooriyah – The Sound of the Future". DJ Mag. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Nooriyah: The DJ celebrating the global south's musical prowess". Dazed MENA. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "UK-Based Bahraini DJ & Radio Host NOORIYAH on Arab Identity in Music". SceneNoise. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Pillay, Tazmé (21 January 2025). "Nooriyah: finding nowhere everywhere". DJ Mag. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 "Nooriyah · Biography". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Hylton, Ria (7 June 2023). "Recognise: Nooriyah". DJ Mag. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Radio is Not Dead: London-Based DJ Nooriyah on Championing Arab Music in the UK". SceneNoise. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Hassan, Amira (15 November 2023). "Middle Eastern music finds a home on UK dancefloors". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 "Nooriyah". Metal Magazine. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Soundstorm 2024: Nooriyah and MDLBEAST redefine Middle Eastern club culture". Billboard. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "Nooriyah to headline DJ Mag Presents party in London". DJ Mag. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  16. ↑ Welsh, April Clare (30 April 2025). "Arthi delivers a genre whimsy set direct from DJ Mag HQ". Muck Rack. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Mix Of The Day: Nooriyah". Resident Advisor. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "Impact: Nooriyah". SoundCloud. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

External links


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