In June, Egyptian pop artist Jana Diab quietly introduced herself to the global music stage with her debut single Escape Plan with Interscope Records, a shimmering pop track produced by the sought after Couros who has previously worked with artists like ZAYN and Aurora.
Fast forward a few months, and Diab has doubled down on her momentum with the release of her debut EP Season One, a four-track collection, including Escape Plan, that offers a fuller view into the emerging artist’s sonic identity. Visually anchored in the streets of Cairo, the video for Escape Plan contrasts sharply with the EP’s glossy pop sensibility, an intentional tension that speaks to the duality of Diab’s positioning: a Western-leaning pop artist grounded in regional cultural references. Streaming platforms have slotted her alongside Egyptian powerhouses like Sherine Abdel Wahab, yet musically, Diab is carving out a much more cosmopolitan space.
On tracks like I’ll Just Say It, her voice, light and agile, floats over Couros’ sleek production, offering moments of emotional resonance that hint at something deeper. There’s an undeniable precision to the EP’s sound, but beneath the sheen, Diab’s vulnerability—whether intentional or not—makes these songs stick. It’s an EP that feels measured, perhaps a little too safe, but shows real potential for an artist at the beginning of her narrative arc.
