Music Artists You Should Know: Nemahsis

With her debut album, Verbathim, out now via her imprint of the same name, singer-songwriter/activist Nemahsis proves she’s the rare artist who perfectly balances artistry and audaciousness on the appropriately self-reflective single, “Coloured Concrete.” Although an exciting time for Nemahsis, the decision to release Verbathim came about after she was dropped from her previous label nearly a year ago for speaking out against the war on Gaza and the treatment of Palestinians.

As a Canadian-Palestinian artist, she started off on TikTok by posting beauty content that quickly garnered a following online. Alongside those beauty videos were covers of artists like Adele, which paved the way for her subsequent pivot into music. As for “Coloured Concrete,” the song exhibits her unflinching ability to examine herself and the world around her while delivering a gentle vocal performance that matches the calm atmosphere marked by fluttering electronic production.

What first starts as a cradle of a track, “Coloured Concrete” becomes a born-again anthem once the drums roll in and Nemahsis hits those high notes that are nothing short of catharsis incarnate. However, perhaps the most impressive is the structure, where the progression of the production matches the lyrics. Beginning with Nemahsis waking up, the song evolves as she goes about her day in a dreamy state with a newfound sense of resilience that’s hard to resist from just listening. By the time the last chorus arrives, the emotions are so palpable they stay long after the 3-minute runtime concludes.

Directed by Norman Wong and Amy Gardner, the visuals for “Coloured Concrete” are as elegant as the song itself. Prominently featuring Nemahsis dressed in white against a pitch-black background, the sandy hill she tries to escape creates a perfect contrast from the running she speaks of in the lyrics. Similar to the journey she guides the listener on, she eventually releases herself from any doubt and ends up dancing underneath falling sand and dust as if the video were a reinterpretation of “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Outside of the single and the debut album, the handful of songs that Nemahsis has dropped since first popping up in 2021 shows a steadily climbing singer-songwriter who has latched onto a style true to her sensibilities as an activist. “stick of gum,” in particular is a great entry point for those unfamiliar with what makes her stand out, complete with similarly anthemic melodies and a music video shot in Palestine with her family. And like the song’s title, Nemahsis has made it clear she’s here to stick around, bringing with her a much-needed optimism rooted in personable songwriting.

Words: David Sosa

“Coloured Concrete” by Nemahsis is out now on streaming services. For more on her upcoming album and potential shows, follow her on Instagram and her website.