Egyptian artist TUL8TE doesn’t want you to know anything personal about him. He is here to make you listen — not to his story, but to his music. We spoke over a camera-less Zoom call in December, around 4 p.m. Jordan time, while he was mid-tour. Any question that veered toward his personal life — his upbringing or anything outside the music — was met with a polite but firm refusal. “La [nah], let’s pass this one,” he’d say.
But TUL8TE’s music speaks for itself. Over the past 12 months, his streams on Spotify increased by more than 18,200 percent, bringing him up to more than 1 million monthly listeners; he also had two songs enter Spotify’s Global Viral Charts.
He has quickly established himself as a trailblazer, so much so that many have dubbed him a Gen Z Amr Diab — a monumental comparison to one of the most influential artists in the Arab world. Known as the “Father of Mediterranean Music,” Diab revolutionized Arabic pop music by blending traditional sounds with contemporary genres, creating a far-reaching impact. (When Rolling Stone ranked the best Arabic pop songs of the 21st century, an Amr Diab hit took the top honors.) The suggestion is that TUL8TE could define the sound of a generation, embodying an original spirit while maintaining a relatable emotional core.
“Tracks like ‘Habibi Leh’ perfectly embody this fusion, reimagining classic vibes while introducing fresh perspectives that have even captured the attention of Western audiences,” says Mark Abou Jaoude, Spotify’s head of music for MENA and South Asia, referencing a 2024 hit with more than 22 million streams on Spotify alone. “TUL8TE’s work not only pays homage to the legends who shaped his upbringing, but also carves a unique path forward, sparking a renewed conversation about the evolution of Arabic pop music.”
Even as his fame grows, TUL8TE has remained quite literally masked in all public appearances. The artist’s iconic white mask — gifted and handcrafted by a friend’s grandmother, he tells me — is more than just a striking visual. “It symbolizes freedom,” he explains. “People don’t know what I look like or what I’ve been through. So people will be able to shape it to their lives easier. I will be more relatable because I am anonymous.”
This philosophy has resonated with fans, as seen during his tour kickoff in Cairo, where 10,000 attendees filled the venue — an impressive milestone for any up-and-coming artist. “Insane,” he recalls. “I couldn’t believe it. A very good start, alhamdulillah. Inshallah, every concert will be ahla w ahla [better and better].”
Life on tour has only reinforced TUL8TE’s commitment to his craft. “It’s making a childhood dream come true in a very fun way, bsaraha [honestly],” he says. “Imagine wearing masks running around the city performing in front of new people, new nationalities, and then taking off the mask and you live your life naturally,” he says with a laugh. “It feels like Spiderman. It feels like I am Peter Parker.”
TUL8TE’s second album of 2024, Cocktail Ghena’y, features an eclectic sound that’s all him. Though he originally intended to release a rap album, the project transformed into a “cocktail” of psychedelic rock, bossa nova, flamenco, and trap — a shift he credits to his chaotic creativity. “It worked because it was genuine, not forced,” he says. “The variety may seem random, but that’s how I feel almost all the time. I’m a very random person, and randomness is a genuine emotion for me.”
He describes his music as a “channel” for emotions and stories. “It’s like a WhatsApp chat — a lot of random texts and stories,” he says. “The only constant is being genuine.” He’s already teasing an unreleased lyric: “عيون الناس مابتشوفنيش” (“Of course, the people don’t see me”), encapsulating his commitment to remaining unseen while laying bare his emotions.
In an era dominated by virality, singles, and TikTok hits, TUL8TE is a staunch advocate for full-length projects. “A single song can’t fully capture what an artist feels,” he says, quoting a conversation he had with Egyptian singer Amir Eid. “Albums and EPs are like stories — they let you dive deep into the concept and connect with the artist on a deeper level.”
He’s also deeply aware of the Arab world’s underrepresentation in global music. “The Arab world hasn’t had its chance to shine in music,” he says. “We haven’t proved ourselves globally yet, but I’m not targeting that. It comes naturally because I have fun. I think that’s the right path every artist should take.”
In an industry that often demands conformity, TUL8TE stands apart. His music defies classification, and his vision is entirely his own. Just by being himself, he’s expanding what the future of music means, pushing it beyond mainstream English pop into global storytelling that broadens tastes, deepens cultural empathy, and fosters compassion. His artistry isn’t bound by convention but driven by the freedom to innovate and connect on his own terms.
So, who is TUL8TE? The answer lies in the music. Stream it, feel it, and maybe you’ll understand why this masked artist doesn’t need to tell his personal story for you to really see him. His songs say it all.
“The idea that I’ve created a song in my weird way, and it ends up being beautiful, documenting a feeling — it’s addictive,” he says. “I listen to it on repeat until I release it. It’s fun. I just want to have fun and look cool while doing it.”
