Gentrification from Mishriff / مشرف by KUWAISIANA

This is inspired by the self-inflicted cultural erasure we see by the powers attempting to rewrite history with their wealth and power.

The song crystallizes the sense of loss and frustration that comes with gentrification to universalize the feeling of displacement, immigration, demolition, etc. The opener puts the listener in an open landscape as a female awakens to a village without men then draws on college campus life, which essentially renews every 4 years.

The song was inspired by Kuwait’s own rampant negligence and unchecked xenophobia.

Tracklist

5.	Gentrification	2:56

Lyrics

لمّا تِصْحى، لِلحين عِنْدِك صُداع
قِرِيَة بدون رجالَها، متفصخين بالظلمة

يا بنت الحلال … يا شهوة الشيوخ
دمچ ثقيل .. أثقل من السكوت
(عيد ميلادي .. خنسوي بارتي
أحط مكياج .. يزيد من جمالي)
طالعة من الطابور / مخالفة القانون
قمة الغرور / صراخ مكبوت

Hail her majesty tan those legs out
Top of the food chain, yes you made it - to the

Sorority coke party, hail the school bus.
Burnt by the genocide, light up, lie down.

Amoeba in the water ate their brains out
Disneyland nose jobs - new community is teething.

سكرانة ويّة القمر / بترقم على كيفها / مزاجها
قرية بدون رجالهم / اصوات مهلهلة

Take a selfie baby, with vultures on roadkill
Americana sugarcoat it
Rewrites of history by warring families
obese bodies infested with xenophobia

It came as no surprise, gentrification
Homicide in the air - new community is teething

Credits

from Mishriff / مشرف, released October 18, 2024
+Aziz on guitars, vocals, hand percussion
Yousef Shami on drums, hand percussion
Brian Riedel on bass
Oud by Gabriel Lavin
Synths performed by Nathan Lambertson & Michael "Slim" Larkin

Recorded in Orbit Audio (Seattle, WA), Temple of the Trees (Normandy Park, WA) and Marigny Studios (New Orleans, LA).

Sound engineers: Robbie Houston & Paul McDonald
Mixing & Mastering Engineer: Robbie Houston

License