Emel

About Emel

Emel, also known as Emel Mathlouthi, is a Tunisian-American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, and producer, celebrated for her powerful and evocative blend of Arabic roots with Western influences, encompassing genres like art-pop, electronic, experimental, hip-hop, pop, and reggaeton. She gained global recognition for her protest song "Kelmti Horra" ("My Word is Free"), which became an anthem for the Tunisian revolution and the Arab Spring. Her music often transcends boundaries, fusing Arabic, French, and English lyrics. Her latest endeavors include the release of her fourth album, "MRA," in April 2024. This album is described as a genre-defying sound combining hip-hop, pop, and reggaeton, and serves as a feminist manifesto and anthem for women's empowerment, exploring themes of female creativity, imbalanced power dynamics, and surviving sexual assault. In 2023, she collaborated with filmmaker Shirin Neshat for a video titled "The Fury," addressing the sexual exploitation of female political prisoners. Earlier, in 2020, Emel released the double album "The Tunis Diaries," featuring new versions of her songs and covers of artists like Nirvana and David Bowie. In March 2025, she was noted for her ongoing commitment to political and social themes, having performed in East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 2024, and continuing to use her music as a means to inspire and connect people.