Sabrina Nejmah: Narrative Over Noise

Sabrina Nejmah, who is seventeen years old, has been exposed to a wide range of emotional intensity in her writing. Since being born in 2008 in Hamburg to a Moroccan mother and German father, she has always been surrounded by different languages as well as a variety of textures — concrete from growing up in Germany and salty air from being near the ocean, having family dinners at home and listening to music on headphones late into the night. Her first book, "Deep End," showcased an artist who boldly displays her emotional insight; however, her third book, "I Can't Love You," strengthens the focus even more.

On the surface, it seems like an easy subject — discovering that someone you thought you can trust is not only an internet troll but also takes pleasure in causing grief and harm through an anonymous source with a hatred-formed insult. However, Najmah's response isn't one of rage, but rather of smirk — using dark humor, she combines her writing style with some melody. The phrase "I'm unable to love" is used repeatedly in the story; however, the way she says it isn't done with drama, but rather as if she has set down a glass of beer on the counter and decided that she will not drink again.

Sabrina Nejmah's production demonstrates deliberate intention. The vocals are pristine and clear in punch while being void of all excess, capturing the very essence of story-telling.

This type of sound is what allows Nejmah to demonstrate her strength. Amidst an age that craves to be outraged, Nejmah uses narrative in her music rather than noise, taking pride in transforming hate on the internet into a moment of self-discovery for the protagonist as they discover that the antagonist they are fighting against isn't a stranger to them, but rather someone that has always been a friend to them via a computer screen.