Five years after her debut album, Nabihah Iqbal has released her highly anticipated second album, ‘DREAMER’. This 10-track LP includes previously released singles such as ‘Sunflower’, ‘This World Couldn’t See Us’, and ‘Dreamer’. Nabihah takes the listener on an ethereal flight, with swirling layers of reverb, delay, and tremolo. In a unique approach, the vocals are subtle on the opening 6-minute 40-second track, ‘In Light’, buried deep within the mix, and used more as another mixture of sound than a primary focus. It’s clear that this release has been perfectly timed to soundtrack the birth of spring and sun.

Nabihah’s latest album represents a significant departure from her previous creative direction, featuring her most introspective and candid work to date. The placement of the three singles after the opening track is a pleasant surprise. Too often, artists sprinkle their primary tracks to cover for those that slack, but after two years of making this album, I feel that Nabihah wants the first listen to be a journey completely untraveled and unpredicted. The combination of her skills as a musician, producer, and DJ is stimulated into the most abstract and varied songs that collectively make a truly transformative experience. The soundscapes range from gentle and atmospheric to dense and overwhelming, incorporating dance (Sunflower, Gentle Heart, Sky River), shoegaze (Dreamer, This World Couldn’t See Us, A Tender Victory, Closer Lover), and ambience (In Light, Lilac Twilight, Sweet Emotion). Her enchanting spoken word and hazy vocals breeze through the album like a field of flowers.

It’s worth noting that the album is 44 minutes and 44 seconds long, which signifies that it’s time to pursue your dreams and that all your hard work is sure to pay off. Hats off to you, Nabihah! ‘DREAMER’ is sure to be one of my top albums of 2023.