Nooriyah

Last updated

Nooriyah
Born
Nooriyah Qais

Saudi Arabia
GenresElectronic; club; global bass
OccupationsDJ; producer; curator; radio presenter; writer
Years active2010s–present
Website nooriyah.com

Nooriyah (also credited as Nooriyah Qais) is a Saudi-born, UK-based DJ, producer, curator and radio presenter. She is known for incorporating music from the South-West Asian and North African (SWANA) region into electronic and club music contexts. [1]

Contents

She is the founder of the London-based music platform and event series Middle of Nowhere, which focuses on SWANA artists and sounds and has been featured by Boiler Room and Resident Advisor. [2] [3]

Early life and education

Nooriyah was born in Saudi Arabia and later lived in Japan before settling in the United Kingdom. [1] [4] [5]

She later completed a master’s degree in public health at Imperial College London, with research addressing child nutrition in conflict zones. [6]

Career

Radio and audio production

Nooriyah first developed her public profile through radio before focusing more fully on DJing and live performance. [1] She is listed as a presenter by Rinse FM. [7]

In 2022, she was credited as the producer of the BBC Radio 4 documentary A Little Flat: The Music Our Ears Overlook. [8]

DJing and performances

Nooriyah’s DJ sets have been described as drawing on SWANA rhythms alongside UK club music lineages and contemporary electronic styles. [9] [10] [11]

In December 2022, Boiler Room streamed Boiler Room London: Middle of Nowhere, which included a recorded DJ set by Nooriyah. [2] [12]

She has appeared at festivals and events including Glastonbury Festival, where the 2023 programme listed “Nooriyah Presents Middle of Nowhere”. [13]

In 2025, Nooriyah was included in press coverage of the Do LaB stage line-ups at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. [14]

Resident Advisor has published a podcast mix credited to Nooriyah and maintains an artist profile for her. [15]

Middle of Nowhere

Middle of Nowhere was founded by Nooriyah as a platform and event series centred on SWANA artists and sounds, highlighting regional musical forms within club culture. [3] [2]

Selected works

DJ mixes and broadcasts

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nooriyah: finding nowhere everywhere". DJ Mag. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Boiler Room London: Middle of Nowhere". Boiler Room. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Middle of Nowhere – Promoter profile". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Symphonic Sounds: Saudi-Born DJ Nooriyah on Celebrating SWANA Voices". Vogue Arabia. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "Nooriyah: The Sound of Belonging". Notion. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Who is DJ Nooriyah? Get to know the Saudi DJ taking over the scene". Cosmopolitan Middle East. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Nooriyah". Rinse FM. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "A Little Flat: The Music Our Ears Overlook". BBC Radio 4. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Recognise: Nooriyah". DJ Mag. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Nooriyah's culturally diverse DJ sets are enriching the future of dance music". Mixmag. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Nooriyah: The DJ celebrating the global south's musical prowess". Dazed Middle East. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Nooriyah – Boiler Room London: Middle of Nowhere". YouTube. Boiler Room. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Glastonbury Festival – Line-Up 2023". Glastonbury Festival. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Coachella 2025 Lineups Announced for Do LaB Stage". Billboard. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  15. 1 2 "RA.1002 Nooriyah". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
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