Nabeel’s hazy shoegaze sound speaks a language of longing

Words are more than just a means of communication for Yasir Razak, they are a way to experience the world. As the frontman of the Arabic indie band Nabeel and a teacher of English as a second language, this thread runs through most every aspect of his life. 

“There’s a unique quality to all languages and they each colour the feelings we express,”  says Razak, 35. “My parents moved from Iraq to the US when I was a kid and so I grew up speaking Iraqi Arabic at home. When I speak it now, it connects me to my community. I had always wanted to hear Arabic singing over the 90s guitar sounds that I loved, but I couldn’t find anyone else doing it, so I decided eventually to make it for myself.”

Having learned guitar at 13, Razak became involved with the local DIY scene in Richmond, Virginia while studying at college and independently released his debut EP, Shams, in 2023. Recorded on weekends and after school, the record’s six tracks channelled influences from the distortion of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine to Nirvana’s gritty use of melody, with Arabic-language vocals front and centre. 

Read the interview in Hyphen.

[This piece was published on 28/10/25]