In the season 1 finale of Shik Shak Shook Ones, hosts Deana and Danny are joined by distinguished journalist Menna Shanab, the music editor at YUNG MENA. They delve into content saturation in the music industry, particularly focusing on how it's affecting listeners' perceptions and emotional connections to music in the age of social media. Menna shares her unique journey as an Egyptian-American living in Cairo and her deep connections with the underground music scene. The discussion also covers the growth of the MENA music industry, the potential pitfalls of rapid expansion, and the critical need for authenticity. They explore the role of bands and live music in reconnecting listeners with the human element of music creation. Finally, the episode highlights the importance of giving back to local music scenes and investing in sustainable infrastructure for artists.

Elia Mssawir is a music industry veteran who has worked with global giants, managing artists and tours and eventually established Big Beards Entertainment. He joins Shik Shak Shook Ones Hosts Danny Hajjar and Deana Soni to offer a candid look at the often unseen aspects of the music industry, covering the hurdles faced by artists, the role of gatekeepers, and the reality of industry contracts. Special segments include discussions about popular artists like Amr Diab and Wegz, as well as the future of streaming platforms. Tune in for a raw episode filled with honest insights and provocative questions.

In this episode of the Shik Shak Shook Ones, hosts Danny Hajjar and Deana Soni dive deep into the challenges and dynamics of being an independent artist versus having a label backing you. They're joined by artist and producer Rita L'Oujdia, and talent manager Tarek El Mendelek from MDLBEAST Records. The discussion covers the importance of mental health for creativity, managing multiple social media platforms, and the misconceptions about the music industry. The guests share their experiences, including the reality of balancing side jobs and the importance of collaboration and support. They also touch on the cultural divide between North African artists and the rest of the Arab region, and how egos affect the industry. The episode emphasizes the need for more honest conversations about the struggles and true nature of the music industry.

Shik Shak Shook Ones hosts Deana Soni and Danny Hajjar bring us a year-end music review of the Arab music scene. From bangers to blunders they highlight their favorite tracks and albums, artists who surprised them (both positively and negatively), overrated and underrated music, memorable collaborations, and predictions for the music scene in 2025.

In this episode of Shik Shak Shook Ones, Danny Hajjar and Deana Soni are joined by Alya Mooro, author of The Greater Freedom and co-founder of Zola Studios. They delve into the nuances of critiquing art from marginalized and underrepresented communities, particularly within the burgeoning Arabic music scene. Discussing the balance between authentic self-expression and the pressures of representation, the trio explores personal experiences, the impact of cultural and historical contexts, and the evolution of artistic responsibility. Alya shares her journey from music journalism to producing content that reflects the true essence of the SWANA community, shedding light on the importance of honest storytelling amidst external perceptions.

In this episode of Shik Shak Shook Ones, hosts Danny Hajjar and Deana Soni delve into the listening habits of Arabic music fans across the diaspora and the Middle East and North Africa region. Joined by Salam Kmeid, Head of Content Marketing at Anghami, who brings 12 years of industry experience, the discussion covers popular artists, the impact of geography on music preferences, and the unique challenges faced by diaspora artists trying to break into the MENA market. They explore artists like Saint Levant, Elyanna, Amr Diab, Wegz, and talk about how music consumption varies across different regions. Salam also provides insights into major initiatives by Anghami to support emerging talents. Tune in to get a comprehensive look at the Arabic music scene both within and outside the MENA region.

This episode of Shik Shak Shook Ones is an emotionally charged venting session and an appeal for more thoughtful engagement with culture in times of hardship. Hosts Danny and Deana vent their frustrations, share their experiences, and tackle the responsibilities of artists and journalists in reflecting and responding to political and humanitarian events, highlighting the difficulties of detaching politics from music. As people in the music industry, our hosts try to navigate their social and cultural responsibilities, reflecting on their struggle to engage in music amidst the ongoing war on the Palestinian, Lebanese and Sudanese people. They call out artists and labels who claim the importance of their Arab identity in their journey for their perceived silence, criticizing them for exploiting cultural identities without truly supporting their communities. They emphasize the importance of authenticity and genuine activism from artists, and shine the light on music entities and artists who are using their platforms for positive impact and have been as loud as ever about the struggles of people in the region.

Who are the best up-and-coming Arab artists we don't know about? In this episode of Shik Shak Shook Ones, hosts Danny Hajjar and Deana Soni drop all of the names you should be listening to. We get to know our two hosts a little better as they share their origin stories, their OG favorites (spoiler: a lot of Shakira), all the emerging artists they've got their eyes on, and where to find them.

The Rolling Stone's 50 Best Arabic Pop Songs of the 21st Century was a big and a controversial ranking to put together. Luckily, Shik Shak Shook One's very own Danny Hajjar was up to the task and will break down the logic behind his choices for the ranking. Joined by special guest Alya Fetyani who's done loads for the Arabic music industry while at Spotify, and his co-host Deana Soni, he rewinds to tell us about what it was like putting this ranking together. Danny reveals how he, along with 15 panelists (including both Deana and Alya), defined what makes a song "Arabic" and on what basis they chose the songs that made it onto the list. Not without heated conversations and a bit of backlash, Danny shares his favorite reactions to the list so far and the conversations it has sparked. Plus, bonus mentions to some of the up-and-coming artists that he says he would definitely include if he repeated the process in ten year's time.

Are some Arab musicians really self-orientalizing for the sake of getting streams? afikra is excited to introduce a new music series to our podcast network! For a full season, Shik Shak Shook Ones will be your go-to podcast for a constructive take on current Arabic music and musicians from the region.