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Sobhhï in 2023

Sobhhï is a Dubai-based R&B artist. He has been ranked the number one streamed hip-hop and R&B artist in the UAE, and one of the top artists in the Middle East.[1] Beginning his career in computational mathematics, he now creates music full-time between the US and Dubai.

Once a non-performing artist,[2] Sobhhï made his first public appearances at a series of listening parties hosted in late 2021 for his EP "PURPLE I".[3][4] Sobhhï's identity is so far largely unknown,[5] although he has revealed the name Sobhhï is his grandfather's name and is part of his own name, translating "morning" from Arabic.[1] His musical output has been categorized variously as "music for late nights," or Nocturnal Trapsoul – "dreamy R&B, bedroom soul and hip-hop".[6][7][2]

Personal life

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Sobhhï was born in the US and lived in multiple locations growing up, including Dubai, California, Chicago, and Louisiana. Taking night classes as a teen, he graduated high school early and went on to attend college at 16. Beginning by studying economics and statistics at UC Berkeley, he obtained a master's degree from the University of Chicago by the age of 21. He then returned to UC Berkeley, where he researched machine learning and artificial intelligence in pursuit of a PhD in computational mathematics.[1]

In 2018, he decided to pause his PhD research and instead pursue a career in music—[5] another focus for him from an early age.[8]

Career

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Sobhhï began his musical career with a collection of dark R&B records, going on to describe the evolution of his musical sound: "There was something I felt was absent in other music, [...] collecting these parts and amalgamating them is what eventually resulted in 'my sound'".[5] He currently moves between the US and the Middle East.[8]

A multi-faceted artist,[6] in addition to writing lyrics and producing the instrumentals, Sobhhï also mixes his own tracks, as well as directs and films his own videos.[8] He has cited the album Nostalgia, Ultra by Frank Ocean as his most formative musical influence, and has also mentioned being influenced by, among others, Tribe Called Quest, James Fauntleroy, Drake, Jeremih, Joaoa Gilberto, and Amr Diab.[8] Retaining the majority of the responsibility for the complete creation process has given his music a distinct sound, previously described as both mysterious and euphoric.[9][6] In 2019 he founded his own record label and streetwear brand NUIT SANS FIN, meaning “night without end” in French.[2][6]

Beginning in 2017,[10] Sobhhï started creating and releasing his color-themed EP series, which includes RED, BLACK, and the forthcoming PURPLE and WHITE. He describes the need for categorizing by color, rather than genre: "The whole color concept comes from the fact that I feel genres are too coarse and limiting to categorize music. You might listen to alternative rock followed by some techno followed by a rap song when you’re feeling motivated or in the gym. Clearly the genres don’t necessarily line up with how we feel, which to me, is the most important aspect of music."[8]

Sobhhï has released three installments of the RED series, categorizing RED as melancholic and vulnerable, alternative R&B.[8][11] He describes the first three RED EPs as equating to a (now complete) chapter in his personal life, where he understands the music to have evolved alongside changes in his own perspectives.[2]

In addition to the RED series, Sobhhï has begun releasing a series of BLACK EP's—the first of which, BLACK I, was released in 2019[12] and ranked as one of Earmilk's highest rated albums that same year.[13] Sobhhï plans the BLACK series to be a counterpart to RED, with a raw Trap-soul sound,[2][11] produced entirely by Sobhhï and mastered by Mike Bozzi.[12]

In late 2020 Sobhhï released collaborative EP, PLEASURES,[14] which was premiered with Okayplayer.[15] In 2022, he went on to release collaborative project LUXURY CASUAL II, a sequel to 2019's LUXURY CASUAL EP.[16]

Listening Parties

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Between August and December 2021, Sobhhï organized a series of listening parties in anticipation of his EP, PURPLE I. He has cited the parties as a formative moment in his career: "Seeing the unanticipated success of the listening parties [...] We had 450 RSVPs in New York City, 980 in Toronto, over a thousand in Dubai and roughly 2,000 in Jeddah […] All venues reached max capacity shortly after doors opened. Being in the room with so many people who are singing the lyrics, showing us love, and supporting us, validates our purpose."[3]

The listening parties were exclusive events that were organized and hosted by Sobhhï.[4] Sponsorships included the cognac brand Rémy Martin for the Dubai event and the Middle Eastern streaming service Anghami for the final event in Jeddah. The listening parties marked Sobhhï's first public appearances and direct interactions with fans.[3]

Discography

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EPs

  • Red I (November 2017)
  • Red II (March 2018)
  • Black I (February 2019)
  • Luxury Casual (with Nivo) (December 2019)
  • Red III (March 2020)
  • Pleasures (November 2020)
  • Luxury Casual II (with Nivo and NHYN) (July 2022)

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Why Dubai's Top-Streamed R&B Star Sobhhi Is Buzzing in Canada". Complex. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Interview with Sobhhi: A Dreamy Modern Approach to "Le Rouge et le Noir."". Atwood Magazine. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  3. ^ a b c "The next Regional Artist Spotlight rising star is: Sobhhï". What's On. 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  4. ^ a b "Sobhhi: Music for Late Nights". readthemike.com. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  5. ^ a b c "Interview: Amidst Rising Fame, Sobhhï Is (Almost) Ready to Reveal His Identity". Popdust. 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  6. ^ a b c d "There's a reason why SOBHHÏ is Dubai's hottest R&B artist out". Kulture Hub. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  7. ^ "Sound advice: The best records of 2019 by alternative Arab artists". Arab News. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "sobhhï / Trapsoul Nocturnal / Hoing Deep and Soulful in Dubai". Flaunt Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  9. ^ "Dubai's Mysterious sobhhï Says That It's Time You "recognize you"". 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  10. ^ "Red I – EP by sobhhï". Apple Music. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  11. ^ a b "Age and identity unknown: why Dubai singing sensation Sobhhi prefers to remain an enigma". The National. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  12. ^ a b Ayub, Janette (19 February 2019). "Album Review: sobhhï —'BLACK I' EP". EARMILK. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  13. ^ "EARMILK's Highest Rated Albums of 2019". Album of the Year. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  14. ^ "sobhhï talks function, feeling, and everything else". StockX News. 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  15. ^ "Sobhhï's "Sedatives" Offers A Moody And Vibrant Glimpse Of Dubai [Premiere] - Okayplayer". www.okayplayer.com. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  16. ^ "Luxury Casual II: A Mirage By Sobhhï". www.newwavemagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
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