Isam B of Outlandish on Palestine, ‘Aicha’, Fame, Faith & Fatherhood | Podcast Ep.60

Our guest in this episode of the MuslimCentric podcast is Isam Bachiri. A singer, songwriter and artist who was one of the founders of the award-winning Danish hip-hop group Outlandish. They had a global hit, including a number 1 in Germany, with their cover of the song Aicha and one of their songs even featured on the video game FIFA 07. We explore his Moroccan roots and his relationship with his father, who moved to Denmark in 1967 as an undocumented migrant We speak about Isam’s evolution from a shy introvert into a global superstar, and how he coped with the challenges of fame and celebrity whilst staying true to his faith. He tells me about saying no to performing on Big Brother, turning down Netflix acting roles, how Hajj came at the right time for him, and his lifelong support for Palestine. Apologies for the reduced video quality due to technical issues on the day. #outlandish #aicha #isamb TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Coming up in this episode 1:38 Introduction 5:30 Parent’s journey from Morocco to Denmark 6:38 The significance of preserving and celebrating our heritage 24:40 Early childhood influences 43:50 The formation of Outlandish 50:50 9/11, Hajj and the timing of the song Aicha’s success 1:03:08 Palestine and silence of some artists 1:11:16 Entertainment industry and pressure to sacrifice your morals 1:16:37 The end of Outlandish after 20 years. Advice on collaborating with friends 1:25:08 Sacrifice 1:30:33 Mental health. Navigating tough times 1:33:25 Legacy and future projects USEFUL LINKS Aicha (Video)    • Outlandish - Aicha (Video)   Look Into My Eyes - Palestine (Video)    • Outlandish - Look Into My Eyes   Celebrating Ramadan (Video)    • Isam B - Celebrating Ramadan (Multi Langua...   Instagram   / isamb_official   Book: Fædreland / Fatherland by Isam B and Tarek Omar SUPPORT US If you benefited from The MuslimCentric Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, comment and rating. SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER https://muslimcentric.substack.com/ KEEP IN TOUCH https://linktr.ee/muslimcentric/