Saudi all-female rock band Seera strike a chord in London - As-salāmu ʿalaykum
As-salāmu ʿalaykum. Seera, an all-female psychedelic rock band from Saudi Arabia, have taken a big step for Saudi music by performing at one of London’s leading arts venues.
Backstage at Queen Elizabeth Hall after their Thursday show, the band laughed about whether their dressing room looked like what people expect for rock musicians. “Doesn’t the room look tidy for a rock band?” joked guitarist Haya.
Singer Nora was clearly overjoyed, telling me she was surprised to see the hall full and to spot audience members singing along to their songs. “There’s nervousness when you play for a new crowd, you don’t know what to expect,” she said. Her favourite parts were the crowd interaction during and after the show and realizing people in London listen to them.
They were touched that listeners who may not speak Arabic still felt the emotion in their music. “Even if people don't understand our language, they can feel the emotions we give. That was a real highlight - seeing the energy even if not everyone knows every word. They filled our hearts,” Nora said.
Seera played tracks from their upcoming EP Sarab as part of a BBC Introducing live programme, following their first European tour with dates in Germany and Switzerland.
Playing in London marked an important milestone for the band - they’re unique in Saudi Arabia and their appearance reflects the fast-changing cultural scene back home. They cited influences ranging from punk to classic rock, and the members joked about discovering new favourites.
Two members have lived in the UK: drummer Thing, who studied design in London in 2008 and was returning after 12 years, said, “I really feel like I belong here - I’m here with my sisters and I’m back in my city.” Haya also lived in London while doing a Master’s in 2019.
They spent time in Denmark Street browsing instruments, and Thing showed the group Spitalfields Market, one of her favourite spots. The trip had its challenges too: packing for British weather and hauling lots of gear. “The instruments were everywhere, they lost my luggage,” bassist Meesh said, adding she strained her back carrying equipment.
People were surprised to learn about an all-female Saudi rock band. “It’s the combo of an all-female band, rock and Saudi Arabia,” Meesh said. Along the way they found themselves changing some people’s ideas about their country. “When people hear Saudi, they think of the desert and camels,” Nora said. “Some people might have a different idea of Saudi, and they just need to see us for who we really are,” Meesh added.
They’re proud of their culture and of singing in Arabic. Onstage Thing wore an antique head covering embroidered by hand with silver medallions.
Sarab, which means mirage, will be released next month. “It’s finding our sound more. We all grew together as musicians and as people. We know what we want, and that's evident in the EP,” Meesh said. Each song tells a story: night and day, light and darkness; Ark touches on childhood, Shams (Sun) is about overcoming hardship, and Akhir Sarkha was recorded with sounds from extinct animals for a charity project about climate change.
They also explore traditional maqam in songs like Zemen, drawing on musical heritage and emotions tied to their region. Nora said some lyrics were inspired by her mother, who believes in living life fully and feeling good about yourself.
More UK shows are planned next year, with hopes to play in more big cities. “We want more,” Haya said.
May Allah continue to guide and bless creative efforts like theirs - it’s nice to see our sisters representing Saudi culture on a global stage.
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