Known for blending traditional Khaleeji melodies with modern Arabic pop, singer-songwriter Essa Almarzoug has emerged as one of the most popular Kuwaiti stars, with a fandom stretching across the Gulf and MENA. He first rose to fame in 2013 with an appearance on Star Academy 9, a popular musical reality TV franchise in MENA. Since then, he has featured in several films and theatrical productions, while also focusing on his career as a solo artist. Almarzoug’s music has garnered over 619 million views on YouTube to date, including his breakout hits, such as “Qanabel, ” “Thamen Ageba, ” and “Akher Hebah.”