Levi’s® Monthly Muse

ABIR

Community /
February 2021

In our newest interview series, we introduce you to the people who inspire us most: creatives, educators, activists, community leaders and the everyday super-humans who keep us on our toes. We’ll take you inside their day-to-day lives, homes and workspaces. We’ll talk motivation and inspiration and of course, all things style.

Meet ABIR, a Moroccon-born, Virginia-raised, New York-realized vocalist with a singing (and fashion) style all her own—and our February Monthly Muse. When we caught up with ABIR, it had been a year since the release of her EP, HEAT, and she was high on the energy of creating her much-anticipated first album, set to release this spring. If there’s one thing we can expect from the lyrical compilation, it’s an outpouring of passion similar to, if not more powerful than, what we felt coming through the computer screen on interview day. A zeal for experiencing, exploring and exulting life through music.

Read on to learn more about ABIR in her own words.

Photo of ABIR standing outside a record store.

I came from Morocco. I grew up in the States. I have those core foundations of who I am and what my culture is and what my religion is. But I have a different perspective.

When did your family come to the United States and how was that transition for you?

I was born in Fes and was about six years old when my family decided to move to the States. We moved to DC for the first year. Then once we got settled, we moved to Arlington, Virginia—me, my sisters, my mom and dad—and I spent almost all of my life there.

At first, I didn't speak a lick of English. Not a word. I spoke French, which now ironically, I don't at all. It took a few years, but I learned English, made friends and just kind of figured it out. I went to school in Virginia. I went to college in Virginia. It wasn’t until my last year of college, when I decided to take a majority of my classes online and rent an apartment in New York. I didn’t even tell my parents. I just did it.

Portrait of ABIR standing outside in a white long-sleeve shirt and Levi's jeans.

One day I decided, I’m kind of good at this. So I started living it.

How did you get into music?

I give this one to my dad and I talk about it all the time. My dad owned a limousine company and so many albums, and he played them in the car every time he would pick me up from school. I became so engulfed in the music. I would always sing. I would always dance. I would always try to mimic the artists that were playing. And one day I decided, I’m kind of good at this. So I started living it: Every thought in my head as a young girl was music, music, music, music. I was doing talent shows. I was singing around, doing county fairs, basketball games, anywhere they would let me sing.

Portrait of ABIR sitting in a chair with a guitar hanging on the wall behind her.

I was always gunning for that moment when I would be able to tap into my premonition and know how to bring the music to life the way I hear it in my head.

Portrait of ABIR sitting on a stoop with her head resting in both palms.

Your EP HEAT has clear North African influences. The visuals were also shot in Morocco. Why was it important for you to include those elements?

The very first conversation I had with my manager when we met was about Morocco. I was always gunning for that moment when I would be able to tap into my intuition and know how to bring the music to life the way I hear it in my head. And it wasn't until two years ago that I really committed to the project. There was a long process of figuring out who the right collaborators would be to help bring it to life, bring these visuals to fruition and help me tell my story in a way only I can.

I feel so close to that because most people—and when I say most, I mean the world—when they think of the Arab woman, they don't think of strong, empowered dreamers. They think of her as oppressed and covered up. They think of a Google image search result. That inspired me more because I have such a unique path. I came from Morocco. I grew up in the States. I have those core foundations of who I am and what my culture is and what my religion is. But I have a different perspective. I believe these two different experiences have helped shape the dreamer in me. I didn’t see myself represented in the music world so I put myself out there and I hope it helps others put themselves out there, too. Believe the world is ready for you.

How you dress says much more about you than what you look like or what face you're making.

Close-up image of the back of ABIR's Levi's jeans.

How do you stay connected to your Moroccan roots while living State-side?

It's funny because I never felt detached as a kid. We were always somehow connected back home. Whether it was going to Morocco for the summer or speaking to relatives all the time; mom cooking in the house and dad playing music from our country. They celebrated all our traditions and made sure our culture was thriving in the household.

I never felt far away until I was 18, when I went back to Morocco with my mom. It was probably the fifth trip I’d made since we left and it was just...different. I think it finally registered to me that I could have had a fully different experience. I'm grateful for the life that I have, but also for the first time, wondered what I’d missed out on.

It's nice being able to go back now, at the age of 26, and know that I have all these years left in my life, God willing, to continue exploring this place that I call home. I want to know about the place that I was born. I want to know about my culture, my people, the music, the food. I want to keep learning about the history. I'm always digging to know more about myself because in knowing about myself, I'm learning so much about my country, my culture and even my religion.

How do your different identities and backgrounds influence your style?

I feel like New York is definitely the culprit behind my style. In New York everybody has their own unique thing going on. I remember coming home after a year of living in New York, and I came back with a whole different wardrobe. My mom was like, what are you wearing?! But in New York, you walk the streets and people probably think that's fly! You know? So coming to New York helped me come into my style and understand what I like to wear, what I feel like when I'm wearing something comfortable or something sexy. Because how you dress says much more about you than what you look like or what face you're making. And now, in this time of my life, I'm always trying to wear something that makes me feel super confident.

GIFs of ABIR wearing a Levi's Trucker Jacket and jeans outside in LA.

There's not one particular muse. It's forever changing as every day passes. Or maybe, it’s my imagination.

Who or what is your muse?

Oh, so many. I could meet someone, see someone. Not necessarily know them, not necessarily even have had a conversation with them. I just really respect how that person is carrying themselves. It could just be running into someone in a grocery store in Iowa and I like how they pick up that cereal box, they were doing it with conviction. So there's not one particular muse. It's forever changing as every day passes. Or maybe, it’s my imagination.

Photo Credit: Dante Marshall

Shop ABIR’s style below and stay tuned here, to our Off The Cuff blog for more style inspiration, DIY tutorials, sneak peeks of our latest collaborations and all the insider goodness you can handle.