Shams Revisits 2008’s Lovesick Arabic Pop on New Single ‘3enaya’

Building on her November 2025 debut ‘Ahwak’—a tongue-in-cheek nod to Abdelhalim Hafez—Cairo-based Syrian singer Shams returns with '3enaya', a single that taps into the syrupy nostalgia of late-2000s Arabic pop without feeling stuck in it.

Produced by longtime collaborator Kubbara, the track unfolds in a sparse, breathable arrangement, stitched together with glitchy electronics, crisp synth percussion, and samples of maqsoum and tabla rhythms alongside classical violin lines. Drawing inspiration from the catchy, emotionally charged lyrics of late‑2000s radio hits, Shams’ reverb-soaked vocals—often doubled with hushed, almost whispered harmonies- play like an internal monologue, pulling listeners into a haze of betrayal, disillusionment, and lovesickness. As the song reaches its final stretch, polished Arabic pop melodies collide with darker electronic textures, mirroring the artist’s emotional spiral into chaos.

With ‘3enaya’, Shams continues her sonic journey in honouring Arabic pop’s past years through forward-thinking productions.