JEDDAH: Japanese singer SennaRin held her debut concert on Saturday, with Saudis as her first audience.
The 20-year-old musical artist, who has yet to publicly perform in her home country, treated fans in City Walk’s Anime Village to a 16-track set as part of Jeddah Season.
She told Arab News: “I have really enjoyed the experience, especially after seeing how people interacted with me. I would never forget how sweet people were and how they tried to communicate with me and show their love.”
She said she tried not to make any mistakes because she had to sing 16 songs, something which made her nervous.
“But seeing how people were enjoying their time and singing along with me made me focus on the ‘enjoy the moment’ idea and relaxed my nerves.”
She also revealed that while she was still in Japan her team had shown her videos of other concerts in the Kingdom and said these had added to her excitement. “When I saw how the audience are interacting with the singers, I couldn’t wait to stand on the stage and perform.”
She delighted the audience with original songs “Dust,” “BEEP,” “Call Your Name,” “Into the Sky,” “Narrative,” and “Zero Eclipse.”
Sumayah Saeed, 21, said she knew about SennaRin because of the anime track “Die Neue These Clash” and that “without a doubt” she became a fan of the singer because of her “soothing, strong, and powerful” voice.
Hafsa Ranjha, 22, said: “I feel so alive, to be honest, because this is my first concert too, and I think it will be my last concert as well because this was the best concert.”
SennaRin made her debut with an EP album under Sony Music Labels after she was recognized for her distinctive and low-toned voice. The first four tracks in the EP were produced by lyricist and composer Hiroyuki Sawano, who is known for producing theme songs for globally loved anime like “Attack on Titan.”
“I’m looking forward to holding my second performance here in the Kingdom. I will do my best to improve and come back again for Saudi fans,” SennaRin added. “Despite the long distance between us, you can listen to me on YouTube until we meet again.”
She initially earned national recognition for singing covers. A staff member who works with Sawano noticed her talent and showed him her videos, leading him to produce her major debut album.
She released four collaborations before debuting, which is rare for a pre-debut artist. Two of the tracks are theme songs for anime. One was for “Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Clash,” and the other was for “Melt.”
Japanese singer SennaRin holds debut concert with Saudis her first audience
https://arab.news/gp7rh
Japanese singer SennaRin holds debut concert with Saudis her first audience
- The 20-year-old musical artist treated fans in City Walk’s Anime Village to a 16-track set as part of Jeddah Season
- She delighted the audience with original songs “Dust,” “BEEP,” “Call Your Name,” “Into the Sky,” “Narrative,” and “Zero Eclipse”
Wrapping up Year of Handicrafts at AlUla’s Winter at Tantora
- Annual festival takes place until Jan. 10
ALULA: AlUla’s Old Town has sprung into life with Winter at Tantora — the annual festival which runs until Jan. 10 — as cooler temperatures settle over the region.
The three-week event contains workshops, concerts and gastronomic experiences which have transformed the historic landscape into a vibrant cultural gathering point, catering to locals and visitors alike.
Winter at Tantora takes its name from the traditional sundial, or the tantora, once used to mark the agricultural calendar.
The actual tantora is still perched atop what is now Dar Tantora The House Hotel, which was named as one of Time magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places” in 2024.
One of the festival’s most atmospheric offerings is Shorfat Tantora, where live music fills Al-Jadidah Arts District as musicians perform from balconies, blending traditional rhythms with contemporary beats.
The open-air experience invites audiences to gather and witness music’s unifying power on Thursday and Friday nights between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. It ends on Jan. 2.
Since this year’s festival also highlights Saudi Arabia’s rich artisanal heritage — in line with the Ministry of Culture’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts — there are plenty of crafts to be seen.
The festival spirit was also reflected this week at the outdoor Thanaya venue, a short drive from Old Town, where Emirati superstar Ahlam Al-Shamsi, who is known as Ahlam, took to the stage.
Her name, which means “dream” in Arabic, felt particularly fitting as the audience was immersed in her craft on the crisp, cool night with AlUla’s ancient rock formations as a backdrop. With wind billowing over the sky, she was perhaps the brightest star of the night.
Ahlam told the crowd: “In the Year of Handicrafts we celebrate human creativity through the hands that craft and the spirit that creates.
“The weather has been chilly over the last two days, but you (the audience) radiate warmth.”
With craft stations and food trucks nearby, Ahlam represented a modern twist weaved into the ongoing oral storytelling tradition.
Back in Old Town, people enjoyed the Art Walk tour and snaked through the labyrinth of painted mudbrick homes, murals and traditions while being guided by a local storyteller.
The Old Town Culinary Voyage merges storytelling and tasting. It spotlights traditional flavors and culture through aromas, spices and tastings.
Walking through the dusty, uneven rocky ground, visitors come across the ancient “Incense Road,” a well-known trade route central to pre-Islamic history and a main stage for global exchange.
A key stop in a network of ancient caravan routes, the road connected southern parts of Arabia, where frankincense and myrrh were produced, to the Mediterranean world.
These routes made incense one of the most valuable commodities of the ancient world. Parts of the route are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
