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.

00:00 Introduction 
03:21 Music Preferences & Affirmations
07:16 Responsibility in the Critique of Underrepresented Communities 
17:50 Countering Dehumanization Through Honest Representation 
21:46 Authenticity in Art 
29:09 Navigating Identity in Art & Media
37:14 The Role of Criticism Locally & in the Diaspora
47:29 Honest Storytelling vs Commodification of Culture 
57:54 Outro & Final Thoughts

Alya Mooro is an Egyptian-born, London-raised writer, producer, and bestselling author of The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes. Her acclaimed debut explores the nuanced experiences of Middle Eastern women in the diaspora, earning her recognition as a “Nu-Gen Feminist to know” by Glamour. Alya contributes to publications like VICE and The Telegraph, runs the cult newsletter The Greater Conversation, and uses her platform to amplify diverse voices. With a BA in Sociology and Psychology and a Masters in Journalism, she blends sociological insight with storytelling. She’s currently working on her second book and new TV projects.

Connect with Alya 👉 https://www.instagram.com/alyamooro/
Alya on Substack 👉 https://substack.com/@thegreaterconversation
Explore Zola Studios 👉 https://www.zola-studios.com/

The playlist Alya mentions 👉 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Kzv3BwQAD3EtwILaXxSI6?si=7XuRZDqPSQGfBxmtF5IalQ

Theme Music 👉 Sleiman Damien https://www.instagram.com/sleimandamien/?hl=en

Hosted by: 
Deana Soni 👉 https://www.instagram.com/deana.soni/ 
& Danny Hajjar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dannyghajjar/ 

Deana is a dedicated presenter and journalist with a special focus on highlighting the cultural richness of the MENA region and fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse voices within the community. In 2020, she launched the UK's first Arabic and North African radio show, which showcased and platformed talented artists from the regions and diaspora, before creating her new platform, WASTA, in 2024. Additionally, she was the official host for the Assassin's Creed Mirage podcast, which explored medieval Iraq and its rich history. Deana also created the viral show Musconceptions, which debunked myths about Islam through comedy and garnered over 10 million views on social media. 

Danny Hajjar is a music journalist based in Washington, DC writing about the emerging Arabic music scene and the new wave of artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and its diaspora communities. He runs the award-winning digital zine Sa’alouni El Nas, highlighting trends in the Arabic scene, profiling artists, and reviewing music.

FOLLOW & RATE SHIK SHAK SHOOK ONES:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w4MchHCMQEkjWBKGoveR9
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056901441

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4wJ-aikX6XQ-BNv5ph8bq2

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

#AlyaMooro #ShikShakShookOnes #ArabMusicians #ArabicMusic

Theme Music 👉 Sleiman Damien https://www.instagram.com/sleimandamien/?hl=en

Hosted by: 
Deana Soni 👉 https://www.instagram.com/deana.soni/
& Danny Hajjar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dannyghajjar/

Deana is a dedicated presenter and journalist with a special focus on highlighting the cultural richness of the MENA region and fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse voices within the community. In 2020, she launched the UK's first Arabic and North African radio show, which showcased and platformed talented artists from the regions and diaspora, before creating her new platform, WASTA, in 2024. Additionally, she was the official host for the Assassin's Creed Mirage podcast, which explored medieval Iraq and its rich history. Deana also created the viral show Musconceptions, which debunked myths about Islam through comedy and garnered over 10 million views on social media. 

Danny Hajjar is a music journalist based in Washington, DC writing about the emerging Arabic music scene and the new wave of artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and its diaspora communities. He runs the award-winning digital zine Sa’alouni El Nas, highlighting trends in the Arabic scene, profiling artists, and reviewing music.

FOLLOW & RATE SHIK SHAK SHOOK ONES:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w4MchHCMQEkjWBKGoveR9
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056901441

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4wJ-aikX6XQ-BNv5ph8bq2

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra