NOURI

The Kurdish Queen of pop returns to Plug Talk, giving us new music, inspiration and great energy!

Words by V The Plug

I first recognized Nouri through social media when I was working on another radio show. She asked me to listen to her new single "Where do we go from here?" and so I did! The track was SO DOPE and I was excited to help this talented artist share her light with the world. As soon as I heard Nouri's voice, I knew for sure, she had the power to make a difference in music.

Then I learned of her the genuine love for the Kurdish community, I was even more inspired by this goddess. She is committed to changing the narrative of never losing hope and always following your dreams. With her strong voice in music and being true to who she is, I have no doubt she will make an impact on the world! Especially because, she is already doing it!!

It has been a pleasure having Nouri on Plug Talk. She has been on 2 episodes and I am amazed that she continues to put out new music... even in a world pandemic. Plus, I love seeing her thrive in an industry that is not the easiest to succeed in.

We have had our goofy, serious, and fun times on the show and at the end of the day, we're just trying to put out next-level energy to the world! Check out her 2 episodes below and come dance with us. It's 2020--We all need it!

WHO IS NOURI?

“It’s bigger than music,” says NOURI. NOURI’s extraordinary story is one of empowerment and inspiration, emerging from her challenging experiences in a Syrian refugee camp to become a blossoming pop star on the world stage. NOURI was born in a Syrian refugee camp in 1993, after her family fled the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, after the first Gulf War of 1991 and bombing of her family’s home in Kurdistan. The Kurdish singer and songwriter experienced her first three years in a camp until her family was granted refugee status in New Zealand.

 

A huge fan of Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston as a child, she developed a deep love of music from the age of four. However, it wasn’t until she received a standing ovation, aged nine, at her primary school talent quest for her performance of ‘When You Believe’ by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, that she realized her immense talent. “I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since,” she says.

 

By the age of 10, NOURI was singing at a variety of local events and contests in the hopes of getting her talent recognized which led her to being invited to perform for former Prime Minister John Key and other members of parliament. She began uploading cover songs on YouTube and social media, where she first gathered a following. Success quickly found her, as she jetted half-way around the world to Los Angeles to work with Grammy-Award-winning producer Brian Kennedy - who has worked with Rihanna and Lady Gaga - and where she was offered a vocal part in big Hollywood film ‘Daddy’s Home 2’.

 

NOURI, whom COMPLEX calls “New Zealand’s latest pop star in the making,” burst onto the scene in November 2018 when she penned the song “Where Do We Go From Here”, which debuted at number 1 on the New Zealand Hot 20 Singles Chart and number 1 on Anghami in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Qatar, Tunisia, UAE, Kuwait and Palestine, surpassing the likes of Ariana Grande and Zayn.


It was not long before critics and industry insiders picked up on this unique talent. Within a month of release, she was performing at Z100 (New York’s number 1 hit radio station), Today at Apple (in both New York and Los Angeles), Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee Lounge, iHeart Radio and appeared on the Beats 1 show with Travis Mills. Since then, NOURI has released “Favorite Goodbye”, “Miss All Ur Jokes” and “Do You Mind?” which all debuted in the top 3 of the NZ Hot 20 Singles Chart. “Miss All Ur Jokes” went number 1 on the iTunes NZ charts on the day of release and “Do You Mind?” debuted at number 1 on the iTunes NZ charts.

 

NOURI’s music introduces a unique creative force in the music industry with her distinctive soulful husky vocal tones and superlative songwriting. She’s been named the one to watch and the up-and-coming breakout star by PopDust, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Emirates Woman and Cosmopolitan Middle East. GQ Middle East says “NOURI’s talent and voice is undeniable”.

 

With her latest single “Do You Mind?”, and her anticipated EP on the horizon, NOURI continues to cement her status as an artist to watch.

Katherine Wentworth