Jordanian alternative pop artist Zaid Khaled returns with a new single, ‘Khatem’, after almost a year of absence, created in collaboration with Syrian producer and sound engineer Ahmed Diaa. The two debuted the track live two weeks ago on stage at the Gouna Film Festival’s networking area, ‘The Hangout’.
The track’s title, ‘Khatem,’ Arabic for ‘Ring,’ written by Zaid Khaled, blends romanticism with an introspective look at the quiet tragedy of solitude. This emotion is carried through Khaled’s heartfelt vocal delivery that he’s known for both in the studio and on stage, contrasted by Diaa’s textured and slightly abrasive production style.
Ahmed Diaa’s voice can be heard as a subtle backing layer in the chorus, adding a rough-edged counterpoint that grounds the track’s rhythmic pulse amid its emotional contrasts. The production style leans on folk-inspired sensibilities, giving the instrumentation a sense of looseness and organic flow.
Nearly a year has passed since Zaid Khaled released his own music, though he was recently featured on Arsinek’s latest EP ‘SAYAD’, which dropped just a month ago, appearing on the third track ‘Leh La’ alongside Oss El-power and Arsinek himself. His last solo release, the double single EP ‘Le Blad’, recorded and filmed in Egypt with Egyptian hip-hop producer 5mstashr and directed by Mohammad El Amaireh, marked a turning point in his biography.
