Iraqi Artist 3YOONI Explores Orientalism on Electro Pop Track ‘SAID’

Swiss-Iraqi artist 3YOONI explores the ironic duality of orientalism on his latest Arabic electro-pop track, ‘SAID’.

Drawing inspiration from the profound insights of Palestinian author Edward Said and his book ‘Orientalism’, 3YOONI crafts a lyrical narrative - which he delivers in Iraqi dialect - that critiques racial prejudices and unpacks the paradoxical nature of Orientalist perspectives. The track’s poignant lyricism challenges the Western narrative that portrays Arabs as ‘uncivilised’ and ‘exotic’ beings, which has historically been used to rationalise their colonial endeavours, whilst shedding light on its persistent influence in today’s societies.

The track’s sonic structure fuses traditional Arabic rhythms and the echoes of oud arrangements with pulsating electronic beats and warped synthesisers.

The video for ‘SAID’, directed by Swiss filmmaker Raphael Piguet, features a sequence shot of two dancers, showcasing a choreography inspired by the famous picture of Edward Said symbolically throwing a stone in the direction of a checkpoint at the Lebanese borders in 2000. The vertical ratio of the video and the symmetrical portrayal of the characters evoke a sense of tension, akin to card games, symbolising the power dynamic between the coloniser and the colonised.