You’d think that rap, by now, would’ve drowned every other genre out; its popularity reaching a point where it feels almost impossible to compete with. But that assumption doesn’t hold for long. Because despite what the algorithms keep feeding us, pop—especially in the region—is still very much alive, with artists like Inez Atili ensuring it.
A multi-million streaming artist, widely-known facts about the one driving TikTok’s formula over the edge go as follows: she’s a self-made singer, became popular by posting song covers, and sings in a variety of dialects of Arabic. But for all that you do know, there are still some facts you probably didn’t know about the fast rising star. Below, eight of them.
She’s an Aquarius
Inez was born on Feb. 6, 1998; making her 28 today as well as an Aquarius. Aquarians are known for doing things on their own terms, trusting their intuition, and being very set in their ways. Sounds about right.
She’s Moroccan
Very proud of her Moroccan roots, Inez comes from the city of El Jadida, a coastal town a stone’s throw away from the Kingdom’s economic capital, Casablanca.
She’s also from the Netherlands
Inez was born, raised and still resides in the Netherlands. Having spent most of her life in Venlo, a small town near the country’s German border, she now lives in Amsterdam, a city that allows her to operate on a wider scale.
She has three sisters
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Inez isn’t the only one in her family with a creative edge. Her younger siblings also happen to be active in the entertainment industry, starting with Chirin, who’s also a singer, and Nada, a popular internet figure with a strong following online.Inez’s older sister, Nadira, keeps a lower profile, prioritising her family life while remaining connected to the same creative space, just in her own way.
Her career started during the COVID-19 pandemic
Like many other artists, Inez first started out by releasing covers online during the COVID-19 lockdowns. One in particular— My Love— quickly went viral. One drop after the other, she built a following that now translates into over 700K monthly listeners on Spotify and a quarter of a million on Instagram.
She sings in Moroccan Darija and ‘White Arabic’
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Inez remains closely tied to her roots, using Darija—Moroccan dialectal Arabic—as the primary language through which her music takes shape. That said, she also sings in what is often referred to as “White Arabic,” a more neutral, pan-regional register that allows her sound to travel across borders without losing its core. Tracks like her debut single Menak wla Meni, as well as Dayman Heik featuring Jordanian artist Akhras sit within that register.
She featured on the Women’s African Cup of Nations
As is customary for every major football event, an official anthem is commissioned. And in the last edition of the Women’s African Cup of Nations—which took place last summer in Morocco and crowned Nigeria’s Super Eagles champions—Inez was tapped to lend her voice to the occasion, stepping in, alongside fellow Moroccan singer Rym, to sign the tournament’s official soundtrack.
She has one EP to her name
Since music became her full-time focus, Inez has kept things deliberately concise, with just one EP to her name; SEARCHING: an eight-track project that still stands as her only full body of work, framed by a steady run of singles before and after. All signs point to a debut album landing sooner rather than later.
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