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The Eastern Echo Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

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Review: Underrated R&B Artist Dounia Is Thriving With Talent On New EP "Popping in the Abyss"

With uniqueness and range incomparable to that of any other young artist today, this Moroccan talent is a true genius.

“In My Book,” this artist is one of the most amazing, yet underrated people out right now. Moroccan singer/songwriter Dounia has just released a new mini-tape titled Popping in the Abyss,  which is simply ten minutes of majestic sounds and good vibes. 

Since her debut album Intro To premiered in 2017, Dounia has put out two more albums in the following years, as well as two EP’s and tons of singles. Through the past four years and releases, you can see and hear the R&B musician’s growth both musically and personally. 

Colliding a soulful and raspy voice with pop and r&b beats and melodies, this women brings fun vibes perfect for the summer time. While listening to her real words can resonate with your dark places, she will also make you feel like a badass bitch no doubt. Dounia’s lyrics demonstrate her independence and strength, which carry her through anything that comes her way. 

In “Bahamas,” the artist talks about how she will do what she wants, regardless of what other people say or think. 

“If I wanna get high all day, I will / If I wanna love hard, sleep late, I will / If I wanna be honest, I will / If I wanna just trust this, I will.” 

Even more impressive, Dounia is only 23 years old and succeeds in music without being signed to a label. Being an independent artist is something she takes great pride in, as her sound and style are super unique from anyone else in the industry. 

“Nobody can make me f**k with myself less,” she states in the first line of “In My Book.” She often relays the fact that her work is super important to her, even when her mindstate  isn’t doing the greatest. 

“I’m an artist, it’s the opposite of stable / But it’s fun though, ain’t it fun though? / On go, please don’t fuck with the workflow,” she sings. “I’m doing the work and everything hurts.” Sometimes, even when you are doing what you need to do to be successful, the road to get there may not be the easiest. This is something anyone can relate to, which makes each and every track she creates even more enjoyable. 

Not only does Dounia write her own lyrics that truly stray from the usual, she even produces some of her own songs and music videos as well.

Lately, I have gotten more into her entire discography and I urge everyone to check her out as well if you haven’t heard of her yet. While there is definitely potential for Dounia to grow in the future, everything she’s put out already is amazing.

I would give this EP 4 out of 5 Swoops.