IDM Meets Indie Folk on Maii Waleed’s New Single ‘Maghnatees’

Egyptian indie icon Maii Waleed returns with a new single, ‘Maghnatees’, in collaboration with producer Mohamed Mallawany, one part of indie outfit TLT.

The track touches on themes of intimacy and vulnerability, where Maii’s poetic lyricism and hushed, emotive delivery unravel a delicate tug-of-war between longing and anxiety amid the chaos of such uncertain times across the Arab region.

The intricate production marks a subtle evolution from Maii’s signature indie folk style, opening with airy vocals over ambient guitar plucks before gradually expanding into a lush flurry of synth pads, courtesy of Tarek Hussein. By its midpoint, the dreamy, ethereal interlude pivots into IDM-tinged electronics with funky undertones. And through it all, Maii’s drifting vocals weave in and out of the mix, anchoring the song’s harmonic structure while pushing her sound into new terrain.

With ‘Maghnatees’, Maii Waleed proves once again why she’s one of the region’s most distinctive voices, fearlessly reshaping her sound while staying rooted in raw emotional honesty. It’s a track that pulls you in like its namesake, magnetic and impossible to ignore.