Nabihah Iqbal - “This World Couldn’t See Us”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Cate Le Bon, New Order, Dry Cleaning

Nabihah Iqbal’s 2023 record DREAMER recalls new-wave synths, prime slices of 80s pop, but distills that influence to a melancholic zone. There’s some chillwave influence to how Iqbal employs electronic instrumentation, pared back to a point of going full psychedelic pop at times. Switching between dance and rock percussion, DREAMER is able to hit a few different pockets across its ten tracks while still maintaining the same cool vibe throughout. These rhythmic changes are what makes DREAMER an adventure. While a chill record, it’s an interesting and surprising offering that stretches softly, mediative but with direction. (Kevin McStravick)