Saudi Arabia is in the middle of a cultural shift unlike any other in its recent history. What used to exist mostly underground is now unfolding more openly, with a new generation of young, electrifying artists not only shaping but building the Saudi music scene from the ground up.

From R&B to hip-hop, psychedelic rock to genre-bending production, Saudi musicians are the emerging underdogs of the region, offering the world artistic creations that feel both rooted and expansive. While there’s a clear connection to Arabic heritage, the sound travels far beyond the borders of KSA.

Here are four Saudi artists worth paying attention to right now:

Hajaj

Abdul Rahman Hajaj is a Jeddah-born singer-songwriter who had his first breakthrough when his song “Learning to Live Without You” landed him on the cover of Spotify’s influential Fresh Finds: Pop playlist — a big deal for an independent Saudi artist at any stage of their career! 

As a lover of Arabic poetry and a writer from a very young age, Hajaj’s songs feel like a form of honest poetry. His debut EP Last Call for Coco (2021) was recorded entirely on analogue tape, preserving a natural, organic sound that just isn’t possible with digital recording. The soul of Hajaj’s music can be felt beautifully in this blues-driven album, which features some of London’s best jazz musicians and has gained millions of streams independently. Most recently, he performed at the 2026 GRAMMY House in Los Angeles — a milestone moment that signals just how far his reach is extending beyond the Arab world.

Check out “High No More” — this song is how I discovered him, and it’s my personal favorite off the EP, along with “Let Me Get To Know You”. 

Tamtam

“My goal with music has always been to bridge connections between people, not just through our similarities but through our differences as well.” (Quote extracted from Tamtam’s Instagram)

Another lyrical poet in-between worlds, Tamtam is a Saudi songstress with Syrian, Palestinian, and Egyptian heritage who lives between Riyadh and Los Angeles. Her music carries that duality in every bar — not only does she often switch between Arabic and English from one line to the next, but her music fuses R&B and pop with Arabic poetry in a way that feels innovative and true to her roots. She describes herself as “Saudi-fornian,” which is a perfect encapsulation of the multidimensionality in her music.

Today, Tamtam is a highly influential figure in the Saudi music scene, both as an artist and as a community builder. She founded the independent music label Goast Flower as well as the Saudi Music Community (SaMuC), a grassroots initiative dedicated to connecting artists, producers, managers, and creatives across KSA.

Her album Ma3assalama Side A explores her return to Saudi Arabia after spending years in California. Check out this awesome live acoustic set of Tamtam performing her songs from the album, along with the singles “Rise” and “Liars Can’t Hide.”

Saüd (Saud Al-Turki)

Saud Al-Turki — who performs and produces as Saüd — is a Khobar-born Saudi music producer and founder of music label Brij Entertainment. Through his label, Saüd aims to create a bridge between local Saudi talent and international music infrastructure. In his own words, “It’s extremely inspiring to know that there are people all over Saudi creating their own artistic identity and it makes me so proud.”

Like Tamtam, his style and sound is born from the marriage between California and Saudi Arabia. After starting his music journey in Los Angeles, Saüd moved back to the Kingdom to build on the skills he developed abroad and help in shaping the Saudi contemporary music scene.

Saüd’s music is heavily influenced by two distinct genres: Arab Tarab music and hip-hop/rap — a fusion that feels effortless precisely because it comes from someone who genuinely inhabits both worlds. He often sprinkles some Arabic samples into his productions, such as the standard Muslim greeting, he explains to Arab News, “In our religion, we use ‘Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmat Allah Wa Barakatu’ as a form of greeting. And what better message would I present to the world than wishing peace to be bestowed upon my audience? It’s a global message that’s relatable and significant.”

My personal favorite of his albums is 013-310 (2018). I first discovered and fell in love with the song “Woman,” but “Arson,” “Oh My God,” and “Criminal Intent” are also awesome hits.

Seera

Seera is Saudi Arabia’s first all-women psychedelic rock band that’s paving the way for Saudi women exploring their creative expression. The four-piece band features Nora on lead vocals, Meesh on bass, Haya on guitar, and the masked “Thing” holding down the drums. Their sound sits at the crossroads of Arab heritage and modern psychedelia, sung in Saudi dialect — giving a mix of vibes from Tame Impala and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, to Fairuz and Ilham Al-Madfai!

“When you’re challenged, when you’re pushed, when you’re told you’re not able to do something specific, you get really motivated and inspired to do the opposite.” Thing told Scene Noise. “The fact that we can express ourselves [this way] has really lended us that boost of confidence to put ourselves out there and be the inspiration and really empower other females to do the same…”

Their debut album Al Mojallad Al Awal (Volume 1) is a fully realized world of its own — a slow-burning psychedelic journey that weaves traditional Middle Eastern music with progressive and contemporary rock. It’s the kind of record that travels well beyond its origins, and it has!

In 2025, they wrapped up their first European tour, taking the stage in Germany and Switzerland before closing out with a landmark show at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, where they performed as part of the BBC Introducing live music programme.

The name says it all — “Seera” translates to “story” or “journey” in Arabic, and that’s exactly where their music takes you. Start with their most streamed track “Nafas,” then dive into “Wahm Al Qimmah” and “Al Fanaa.”

Keep an eye out for more artist spotlights from around the East!

— Ghina Fahs

(We do not own any of the photos used, all photo credit goes to respective owners, sourced from Instagram)