She Will Do It Without You: Nemahsis Shines Independently On Tour
Words & photos by Jordan Esparza-Kelley
Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis at Metro | Photo by Jordan Esparza-Kelley
Many artists these days are torn between their perceived choice of getting signed to a record label or being Independent. But what if that choice was made for you in the worst way?
On October 12th, days after Hamas’ October 7th mobilization for liberation from the Israeli occupation of Palestine, Canadian indie vocalist and songwriter Nemahsis was dropped by her label due to her being Palestinian and advocating for her people’s liberation. And while most might think that would signal the end, it turned out to be a new beginning for this rising star.
Having been completely ostracized by the music industry, after so many told her the album she had on deck could be album of the year, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Nemahsis released her single “Stick of Gum” independently and followed that up with her album titled Verbathim in September 2024. Verbathim’s unique spelling creates the effect of someone holding her tongue, symbolizing the censorship she had experienced within the industry for being Palestinian.
Less than a year later, Nemahsis has completed an ultra-successful 11 city tour spanning across Canada and the United States, which I had the opportunity to attend in Chicago on Valentine’s Day.
As the snow fell in Wrigleyville, Nemahsis found a warming love in her fans who sang every word and who she let speak candidly into the mic about their experiences as Muslim women. The mutual chemistry she shared with the crowd was instantaneous and authentic. Opening the show was Chicago’s own rising star DJ Nanoos, giving us an hour-long mix filled with heritage hits the crowd sang word for word. From kids to parents, they all shared their enthusiasm to dance, not letting a moment with these two trailblazing artists go to waste.
Donning a full band, Nemahsis delivered a legendary performance containing all her hits, bits, and an encore of “Stick of Gum,” often allowing the crowd to use their singing voices to beat her to the lyrics. She was everything they came for, and she didn’t shy away from connecting with her fans more directly either. At one point, she stopped the show to give merch to two fans, then brought nearly 20 kids backstage for an impromptu meet and greet.
Nemahsis holds the mic out to the Metro crowd | Photo by Jordan Esparza-Kelley
Coming off a personal 2-month concert hiatus, I felt extremely blessed for this to be my first show back. The performance was incredible. The crowd was engaged. Security almost kicked me out. It was a movie.
In North America, March is Women’s History Month and coincidentally it is also Ramadan. As such, I wanted to highlight and honor Nemahsis, who is simultaneously becoming an icon for Palestinian and Muslim women, showing the world the power of holding a dignified stance that’s backed by incredible, heartfelt art. The Canadian trailblazer is bringing a sense of hope and joy to women of all ages through being herself—the one thing the world tried to tell her she could never be.
