There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for making …

- Ayshay

I've been exploring gender performativity in the Gulf since I was a teenager. I'm not a gender anthropologist, but I feel like there's an extreme bin…

- Ayshay

If you've ever seen album covers for Arab female pop stars, it looks like the designer was paid five dollars to make them, and the extreme femaleness…

- Ayshay

There's a big difference between the Arabic and Western scales. One uses quarter tone system and one doesn't. So in order for me to compose real Arab…

- Ayshay

The vast majority of women musicians function under singular names like 'Cher' 'Madonna'. They have to get married almost immediately to preserve the…

- Ayshay

I'm fascinated by evil queens. They're very alluring and repellent at the same time, and I'm into that dichotomy.

- Ayshay

I've never been to China. I only know what the West is telling me about China.

- Ayshay

I'm not a philosopher so why should I provide anyone with the answers? I'm just a musician, I don't have any solutions. All I'm doing is questioning …

- Ayshay

For instance, members of the elite will never allow their children to become musicians normally, because it's - not embarrassing - but it's not done.…

- Ayshay