Abdullah Diab's Koteri Releases Debut EP ‘Heaven’s A Lonely Place’

UK-based Arab-led indie-pop outfit Koteri - made up of Abdullah Diab, son of Egyptian superstar Amr Diab, Dinar and Jordan Spiro - debuts a funky fresh EP titled ‘Heaven’s A Lonely Place’.

‘Heaven’s A Lonely Place’ meshes the group’s multi-ethnic backgrounds, early influences (which include Frank Sinatra, Sergio Mendes and The Black Eyed Peas), and love of the forward-thinking spirit of hip-hop. The eight-track record pivots between slinky jam music, street soul, space funk and skewed jazz, exploring the complexities of love, relationships and self-discovery through reflective lyricism and poetic rhythms.

The ethereal dreamy tempo of tracks like ‘Marina del Rey’ and ‘Know It All’ echoes the sensibility of The Neptunes, the sampled dexterity of J Dilla and the cinematic soundscapes of Kevin Parker. Meanwhile, ‘Hashim’ and ‘Vettel’ lean more towards upbeat funk-pop, featuring persistent heavy bass arrangements and crisp drum patterns.

The album’s outro, ‘Less Than Three’, however, has that dreamy classic French pop bent, featuring the breathy singing delivery of Lea Biro engulfed in sensuous guitar riffs and enjoyable melodies that feel reminiscent of Jane Birkin and Carla Bruni.

In celebration of the release of their debut album, Koteri will perform ‘Heaven’s A Lonely Place’ in full for the first time live at The Lower Third in Soho, London on January 17th, 2025. Tickets are available for purchase on Live Nation’s official website.