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Podcast: The Queer Arabs

Episode 84 in English: Shamir!

Shamir, fellow introvert, exceptional singer-songwriter, and actor, joined Ellie, Alia, and guest co-host Miriam Hakim!  He also started his own record label.  After a brief Twitter exchange, Shamir was kind enough to sacrifice sleep (more than he already does) to talk with us!  The connection during the recording was instant – talking to Shamir felt like talking to someone we’ve known for a long time.  We discussed how gendered choir is, the significance of the dissonance-turned-harmony in Shamir’s music, and his upcoming tour with Sleater-Kinney.  We also got to talk about queerness, Islam, and the intersection of those two things.  We touched on Shamir’s love of country music and how, as a person of color, access to the country music scene is less than ideal.  Enjoy this episode – thank you again to Shamir for spending this hour with us.

If you don’t already follow Shamir on social media, that’s a problem:
IG: shamir326
Twitter: ShamirBailey

If you don’t already follow Miriam Hakim, that’s also a problem:
IG: kuzbaramusic & giantkittyband

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Episode 83 in English: Stories with Feelings

On this episode, we (Aminah Mae Safi and Alia) talked about the importance of seeing oneself in fiction, with an especially specific importance when it comes to people at a formative age.  Aminah, author of the young adult fiction books Not The Girls You’re Looking For and Tell Me How You Really Feel, is helping make that happen.  Both of us are mixed (with one Arab parent), and Aminah brings that needed representation into her writing.  There are also Muslim characters, and that’s something so beautiful to see as well.  The queer romance in Tell Me How You Really Feel is also incredibly refreshing.  This was a cathartic and affirming conversation, and many of the listeners will identify with the points we touched on.  Please read Aminah’s writing and share it with the young readers you love!

Follow Aminah on the socials:
Instagram: aminahmae
Twitter: aminahmae
Facebook: Aminah Mae Safi

Visit Aminah’s website here: http://www.aminahmae.com/

 

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