Nooriyah
Nooriyah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nooriyah Qais Saudi Arabia |
| Genres | Electronic; club; global bass |
| Occupations | DJ; producer; curator; radio presenter; writer |
| Years active | 2010s–present |
| Website | nooriyah |
Nooriyah (also credited as Nooriyah Qais) is a Saudi-born, UK-based DJ, producer, curator and radio presenter. She is known for incorporating music from the South-West Asian and North African (SWANA) region into electronic and club music contexts.[1]
She is the founder of the London-based music platform and event series Middle of Nowhere, which focuses on SWANA artists and sounds and has been featured by Boiler Room and Resident Advisor.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Nooriyah was born in Saudi Arabia and later lived in Japan before settling in the United Kingdom.[1][4][5]
She later completed a master’s degree in public health at Imperial College London, with research addressing child nutrition in conflict zones.[6]
Career
[edit]Radio and audio production
[edit]Nooriyah first developed her public profile through radio before focusing more fully on DJing and live performance.[1] She is listed as a presenter by Rinse FM.[7]
In 2022, she was credited as the producer of the BBC Radio 4 documentary A Little Flat: The Music Our Ears Overlook.[8]
DJing and performances
[edit]Nooriyah’s DJ sets have been described as drawing on SWANA rhythms alongside UK club music lineages and contemporary electronic styles.[9][10][11]
In December 2022, Boiler Room streamed Boiler Room London: Middle of Nowhere, which included a recorded DJ set by Nooriyah.[2][12]
She has appeared at festivals and events including Glastonbury Festival, where the 2023 programme listed “Nooriyah Presents Middle of Nowhere”.[13]
In 2025, Nooriyah was included in press coverage of the Do LaB stage line-ups at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.[14]
Resident Advisor has published a podcast mix credited to Nooriyah and maintains an artist profile for her.[15]
Middle of Nowhere
[edit]Middle of Nowhere was founded by Nooriyah as a platform and event series centred on SWANA artists and sounds, highlighting regional musical forms within club culture.[3][2]
Selected works
[edit]DJ mixes and broadcasts
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Nooriyah: finding nowhere everywhere". DJ Mag. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Boiler Room London: Middle of Nowhere". Boiler Room. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- 1 2 "Middle of Nowhere – Promoter profile". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Symphonic Sounds: Saudi-Born DJ Nooriyah on Celebrating SWANA Voices". Vogue Arabia. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Nooriyah: The Sound of Belonging". Notion. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Who is DJ Nooriyah? Get to know the Saudi DJ taking over the scene". Cosmopolitan Middle East. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Nooriyah". Rinse FM. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "A Little Flat: The Music Our Ears Overlook". BBC Radio 4. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Recognise: Nooriyah". DJ Mag. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Nooriyah's culturally diverse DJ sets are enriching the future of dance music". Mixmag. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Nooriyah: The DJ celebrating the global south's musical prowess". Dazed Middle East. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- 1 2 "Nooriyah – Boiler Room London: Middle of Nowhere". YouTube. Boiler Room. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Glastonbury Festival – Line-Up 2023". Glastonbury Festival. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Coachella 2025 Lineups Announced for Do LaB Stage". Billboard. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- 1 2 "RA.1002 Nooriyah". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- "Nooriyah on Rinse FM". Rinse FM.
- "Nooriyah on Resident Advisor". Resident Advisor.
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