Unveiling “Verbathim”: A Look Into Nemahsis’s Debut Album
Nemah Hasan, a Palestinian Canadian artist known professionally as Nemahsis, released her debut album, Verbathim, on September 13. The album delves into themes of societal pressure and personal acceptance. With Verbathim, Nemahsis reflects on her life, art, and relationships. She fearlessly embraces stylistic experimentation, offering fans a compelling story through the 12-track collection.
A Time of Self-Reflection
The album opens with the wistful folk song “old body, new mind.” The song’s lyrics encapsulate notions of longing and evolution. The recurring phrase “old body, new mind” pinpoints a shift in perspective or identity, stemming from personal growth or transformation. In “old body, new mind,” Nemahsis’ ethereal but crisp-sounding voice sings, “I’m not supposed to be back here / I’ve invaded our time / My memories lead me back to winding roads where you and I belong.” These references to memories and evolution demonstrate a complex emotional story about reconciling with the past and embracing change.
The second track, “you wore it better,” begins with a resonant guitar introduction that sets the stage for Nemahsis’ gentle vocal delivery. The song’s lyrics express feelings of self-doubt, highlighted through the opening line of the chorus: “You wore it better than I could ever.” These lyrics as a whole reveal Nemahsis’s struggle of feeling as though she needs to measure up to certain standards. As both a woman and an artist, she reflects on the destructive effects of comparing oneself to others.
With the third track, “coloured concrete,” the composition demonstrates her unwavering capacity for self-examination. The production is accompanied by a serene and layered vocal delivery that complements the calm atmosphere. In this track, there is a seamless alignment between the lyrics and the punchy electronic production. The build-up from the pre-chorus to the main chorus includes a strong guitar element. Nemahsis sings confidently, indicating that she has figured out her purpose in life.
The music video for the song features Nemahsis dressed in white against a black background, with a visually striking contrast created by a sandy concrete-filled hill. The video effectively presents a visual correlation to the meaning of the lyrics, depicting Nemahsis’s beginning confusion and questioning as she is shown swaying and stuck in a concrete-consumed hole. Nearing the end of the video, she steps out confidently.
Artistic Pressures
In the alt-indie folk performance “fine print,” Nemahsis approaches the anxiety that can come from being in the music industry. With her feathery vocals, she confesses, “The world is just swallowin’ us whole / It’s a good thing I’m invisible /I don’t wanna let in the outside /Keep me away / I don’t wanna let out the inside.” Nemahsis displays her perspective on wrestling with the fear of being perceived and losing control of her art. The music video shows two individuals who are arguing as Nemahsis stands behind them slightly covered. This presents an interesting take on the lyrics, as Nemahsis appears to be eavesdropping on their conversation while being “invisible” to them.
Moving on to “miss constructed,” this track captivates with its ethereal, dreamlike production. It invites listeners into an exploration of the delicate vulnerability that comes with sharing art. The song explores the topic of potential misinterpretation when art is in the hands of its audience. It offers a touching observation about the complexities of perception and expression.
Breaking the Barrier
“Delusion” showcases Nemahsis’ innovative use of groovy syncopated beats and a catchy melody that will make you want to dance. In this song, she uses the blend of deep octave layers when delivering the lines “Delusion, hallucination, keeping my cool / I’ll use you until I recover,” emphasizing how she uses delusion to cope and convince herself she is fine. Through her music, she is constantly experimenting with new sound techniques to create unique tracks. As it progresses, it quickly shifts to a straight guitar with a slight haunting synth. Eventually, it builds up slowly with drums towards the end.
Standing at less than two minutes long, “i borrow happiness from tomorrow” is one of the shortest songs on the album which just leaves you wanting more. Accompanied by an unabating guitar, Nemahsis’ soothing voice showcases deep emotions through inflection of tone. With this track, the lyrics feel like lines taken straight from her diary to express self-reflection throughout this piece. When she laments in the lines, “Be more reliable, be more relatable / Be more like anything, anything you’re not,” listeners can hear the slight, fragile breaks in her voice and the variety of inflections that show the emotion in her vocal expression. Overall, the lyrics speak on Nemahsis’s complicated feelings of comparison while trying to meet both her own and others’ expectations.
The song “dead giveaway” seamlessly blends the raw energy of alternative rock with the soulful vibes of R&B, resulting in a truly captivating and memorable sound. Nemahsis infuses a subtle Southern twang and folk influences into the track, adding a unique and distinctive flavor. The song touches on themes of personal growth, and the consequences of living life in a fast-paced manner. With her sultry voice, Nemahsis professes, “Some people win the lottery / and still spend it in a day / haven’t finished what’s in front of me.” These lyrics tackle the short-lived aspect of material wealth and the importance of valuing what we already have. The haunting aura and melodic chorus of the song combine to deliver a deeply stimulating listening experience for its audience.
Experimentation and Expression
With “spinning plates,” Nemahsis uses a spoken-word monologue approach of singing combined with a melodramatic instrumental. This gave the song a distinctive and sentimental artistic approach. At the outset of the verses, she speaks with a flat tone before transitioning to the chorus singing, “What am I, what am I / what am I / what am I to you?” where she enters with brighter dynamic vocals. In the music video, Nemahsis is depicted seated on a circular platform while shaping clay on a pottery wheel. As the video unfolds, the platform begins to rotate in harmony with the pottery wheel, capturing the essence of the song’s title “spinning plates.”
The track “Furniture Killer” seamlessly transitions into an electrifying composition that instantly captivates the listener. The punchy synths and bright, spirited vocals work in perfect harmony to create an electrifying listening journey. The vibrant use of percussion further improves the overall sound, elevating the production of the song. With the album containing primarily melancholic pieces, this track emerges as a refreshing addition and injects a burst of energy.
Authenticity of Origins
“Stick of gum,” emanates an upbeat melody within the realm of alternative rock. Its lyrics address experiences related to memories, optimism, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. With the song’s addictive harmonies, it flourishes a powerful statement of perseverance. The music video for the track features a cast made up of Nemahsis’ family members. The video was filmed in her hometown of Jericho, located in Palestine.
The final track, “chemical mark,” employs an ethereal piano and rich guitar to effectively highlight the lyrics. As she softly sings, “Turn away, other way / I’ll find a way, any other way,” the lyrics show Nemahsis going through a tough time and depict how she’s trying to change things up. When she talks about something leaving a “chemical mark,” it emphasizes how much a past situation has affected her and how she still has inner conflict.
Growth and Resilience
Nemahsis has not been one to shy away from utilizing her platform to support her community overseas. Nemahsis released Verbathim independently after being dropped from her previous label for speaking out against the war in Gaza and the mistreatment of Palestinians. The album’s noteworthy characteristic is its genre-fluid nature and emphasis on creativity, authenticity, and openness in each track. The project showcases careful craftsmanship in both production and poetic lyricism, leaving Verbathim as an album to be remembered well past its release date.
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Interested in more West Asian artists? Check out our playlist EnVi Rotation: West Asian Wave here!
