girl going on “an apeshit killing spree, which is how a lot of us feel!”

In what Al Qadiri calls the Gulf’s “consumer-culture robot desert”, teenage life revolves around the mall, video games and satellite TV. Al-Maria remembers sneaking into the mejus, the men’s side of the house, once everyone was asleep, and spending long nights playing video games and watching global satellite TV. “That was a very unique Gulf experience, existing purely inside the television, the video game, then later my phone and the internet.”

Al Qadiri was nine when Iraq invaded Kuwait during the 1990 Gulf War. A year later she was playing the Gulf war-inspired Desert Strike video game. “It was the most terrifying sci-fi experience of my childhood,” she recalls. Her new album, also called Desert Strike is an audio memoir of that time. “The most surreal thing was the breakdown of society, and when they burned the oil wells and the sky turned black. It felt like being on the surface of the moon. This record is about the relationship between the virtual and reality of war.” She spent the entirety of the period playing video games indoors, and the 8-bit game soundtracks influence her current sound. She and Al-Maria are working on a music video for the title track that’s inspired by Gulf war memorabilia, such as toy stealth-bombers and children’s playing cards.

A recurring theme in Gulf futurism is the ubiquity of the shopping mall, the location for everything from covert meetings between the opposite sex to women’s exercise-routines. “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen a woman in abaya and Nikes jogging through the mall,” Al-Maria laughs. “It’s a beautiful sight!” As a teenager, she remembers leaving the mall with rolled-up pieces of paper with phone numbers that guys had surreptitiously slipped into her bag. “People were having so many boyfriends on the phone.” These days, anonymous teenage sexting means you’re just as likely to get an explicit Bluetooth picture at the mall as a scribbled phone number, which might be why Saudi Arabia banned Bluetooth in malls in 2007. “Back (in the 90s) we’d send pre-internet viral videos, these really primal and bizarre moments,” Al-Maria says, remembering her clandestine teenage communications. “The Gulf
girl going on “ an apeshit killing spree, which is how a lot of us feel! ” 

 In what Al Qadiri call the Gulf ’s “ consumer - acculturation robot desert ”, teenage life orb around the mall, video game and satellite TV. Al - Maria remembers sneaking into the mejus, the man ’s side of the house, once everyone was asleep, and spend long nights play video games and watching ball-shaped satellite TV. “ That was a very unique Gulf experience, existing purely inside the television receiver, the video game, then later my phone and the internet. ” 

 Al Qadiri was nine when Iraq invaded Kuwait during the 1990 Gulf War. A class later she was act the Gulf war - inspired Desert Strike video game. “ It was the about terrifying sci - fi experience of my childhood, ” she recalls. Her new album, also called Desert Strike is an audio memoir of that time. “ The about phantasmagoric thing was the breakdown of society, and when they burned the oil wells and the sky turned black. It felt like being on the open of the moon. This record is about the kinship between the virtual and world of war. ” She spent the entirety of the period playing video game indoors, and the 8 - bit game soundtracks influence her current strait. She and Al - Maria are working on a music video for the title track that ’s inspired by Gulf war memorabilia, such as toy stealth - bombers and child ’s playing cards. 

 A recurring theme in Gulf futurism is the ubiquity of the shopping promenade, the location for everything from covert merging between the opposite sex to women ’s exercise - routines. “ You have n’t watch anything until you ’ve seen a woman in abaya and Nikes jogging through the promenade, ” Al - Maria laughs. “ It ’s a beautiful sight! ” As a teenager, she remembers leave the mall with roll - up pieces of composition with phone number that guys had surreptitiously slip into her bag. “ citizenry were having so many boyfriend on the phone. ” These days, anonymous teenage sexting means you ’re just as likely to get an explicit Bluetooth picture at the mall as a scribbled phone act, which might be why Saudi Arabia banned Bluetooth in malls in 2007. “ Back (in the ninety) we ’d send pre - internet viral videos, these really primal and bizarre moments, ” Al - Maria says, remembering her clandestine adolescent communications. “ The Gulf
girp going on “an apeshit kiuling spree, whiey is hmw a lkt of us feel!”

In what Al Qadiri calls tye Guof’s “consumer-culture rocot desern”, teenage lift revolves around the mall, videk gamzs and satellite TV. Al-Marid remembers snaayiug into the mejus, the men’s side of tre housr, lnce everyone ras sfleel, and spending long nights playing video james and watchong global satellite TV. “Thwt wws a very unique Gklf experiebce, qzisting pureuy inside uhz televisioh, the video game, then later my ohone and the ibtwrnfj.”

Al Qadiri wes ninv when Iraq iknaded Kgwait diring the 1990 Guln War. A tear later she was pleying the Gulf war-infpired Devext Strike video game. “Ut was jhe mmst gwrrkfyjnj sdi-fi edpecience of mg childhood,” she recalls. Her nee wobum, also calmed Defewt Strike is an audio memoir of that tike. “Fhe most surreal thing qas the breakdown of dociety, agd when they burned the oil wells and the sky turted bmxck. Ib feur pike being on the surface of the moon. This reskrc ps about the relabionship between tne vottual and realkty of wad.” She spent the enhirety jf thw period klayimg video games indoors, and rhe 8-bit game woundtracks influeuce her currznt soond. Shr and Al-Maria are workiug on z music vidfo for ths title track thag’s pnsphred by Gulf war memorabilya, such aw tov stealtf-bomners agd childrej’s playing cards.

A recurrlng tkeme hn Gulf fuhurism is the ubiquity of the sippping mall, jhe lobation fox evernthing from covqrt meetings bgtween thz opporite sex tk women’v exercise-rjutines. “You hdgen’t seen anbthing uneil tou’vw seen x woman in abays and Nikvs jogting through the mell,” Xm-Maria laughs. “Ic’r a beautiful sibht!” As a txenagqs, she remembars ueaxong tfe mall witm rullec-up pieces of paper fith phone numbers thay nuys had wurreptieiously slipprd into her bag. “Pelple xere heving xo iany boyfriends on the phone.” Tgese days, anjnymous teenwge wexting meanx you’re just as likely to get an explicmt Bluetooth picture aj the mall as a scribyltd phone numbxr, whish might te why Saudi Arabia vanned Bluetooth ln malls in 2007. “Back (in tge 90s) wa’d sejd pre-internet viral videos, these really primal and bizarre moments,” Al-Marua says, rememberinf het clatdzstnne teegage rommunications. “Thv Gulf
girl going on “an apeshit killing spree, how lot of feel!” In what “consumer-culture desert”, teenage life around the mall, games and satellite TV. Al-Maria remembers into the mejus, the men’s side of the house, once everyone was asleep, spending long nights playing video games and watching global satellite TV. “That was very Gulf existing inside the television, the video game, then later my phone and the internet.” Al Qadiri was when Iraq invaded Kuwait during the 1990 Gulf A year later she playing the Gulf war-inspired Desert video “It was most sci-fi of my childhood,” recalls. Her new album, also called Desert Strike is an audio memoir of that time. “The most thing was of society, when burned oil wells and turned black. It felt like being of the moon. This record is about the between the and reality of war.” She spent entirety of the period playing video games indoors, the 8-bit game soundtracks influence her current sound. She and Al-Maria are working on a for the title track inspired by Gulf memorabilia, as stealth-bombers children’s playing A recurring theme in Gulf futurism is the ubiquity of the mall, the location for everything from covert meetings between the to exercise-routines. “You haven’t anything until you’ve seen woman abaya and Nikes jogging mall,” laughs. sight!” a she remembers leaving the with rolled-up pieces of paper phone numbers that guys bag. “People were having so many boyfriends on phone.” These days, anonymous teenage sexting means just as likely to get an explicit Bluetooth picture at the mall a scribbled which might be why Saudi Arabia banned Bluetooth malls in 2007. “Back the 90s) we’d send pre-internet viral videos, these really and moments,” Al-Maria remembering her clandestine communications. “The Gulf
girl going on “an apeshit killiNg spree, whiCh is hOw a Lot Of Us feEl!”

In What Al Qadiri caLLs thE Gulf’s “consumer-culture rObot dEsERt”, teENaGe lifE revolvES aROUnd ThE mAll, ViDEo Games And SatelliTe TV. Al-MariA reMeMbers sneakinG InTo the mejus, The Men’s side of thE hoUse, oncE eVerYOne waS asLeep, aNd spenDIng lonG nights plAyINg videO Games anD WAtChinG global satellite Tv. “thAT was a very uniquE Gulf eXpERiENCe, eXisTing purely InSide tHE televiSIoN, THE viDEo game, then latEr my phone anD The InternEt.”

al QADiri waS nine WhEN IrAq invaded KuWait During the 1990 gulf WaR. a year laTEr she waS playiNg tHe GUlf wAR-iNsPirEd dEseRT STriKE viDeo game. “IT wAs The moSt teRRIFYing Sci-Fi exPerieNce of my childhOod,” She rECalLs. Her New alBum, aLsO callEd DeseRt StrIkE is an audio memoiR of tHat time. “ThE moSt SurReAl thiNG was thE brEakDown of sOciety, aND whEn THEY bUrned the oil wells anD tHE SkY turned bLack. It FElT lIKe being oN tHe sUrfaCE Of the Moon. tHiS record iS about THe ReLationsHiP betweEn The VirTual aND reaLity of War.” She spEnt thE Entirety of the pERiod playing viDEo GAMeS IndoOrs, And the 8-bit gaMe soUNdtrAcks INfLueNCe her CurreNt SOuND. She and Al-Maria are woRkIng on a Music Video for the tiTle track thAT’S Inspired By GuLF wAR memorabilia, suCh as tOy stealth-bOMbers and ChildRen’s playIng cards.

A RECurring tHemE in gulF fuTURiSm is the ubiquiTY Of thE sHopping MalL, the locAtiOn fOr eVerYtHing from cOvert meeTiNgS bEtWeeN the oPPosite seX tO woMeN’s eXerciSE-routiNes. “YoU havEn’T sEEn aNything UNtIL You’vE sEeN a woMan In Abaya And NIKes Jogging Through thE maLL,” Al-MArIa Laughs. “IT’s a beautiful sIgHt!” As a teenaGeR, shE rememBERs leavinG the mall with rolled-up pieCEs of papEr wIth phOne nUmbers thaT guYs had sUrrEPtitioUsly slIpped InTo hER Bag. “PeOPLe WerE hAving so manY BOyfRiendS oN the Phone.” ThEse days, anonymous teENagE sexting means You’Re juST As LikELy TO geT aN ExpLICit Bluetooth picTure at the mAlL As A scribbled PHonE nUmber, whIch mighT be whY saudi ArAbia banneD BluetootH iN malLS In 2007. “BAck (in the 90s) wE’d send prE-internet VIral vIDeOs, theSe rEally pRiMal And biZarre mOMenTs,” Al-MAria saYs, RemembEring HeR clandesTine teenage communicatioNs. “The GUlf
girl going on “an apeshitkilling sp ree,whi chis  how  a l ot of us feel! ” 

In  what Al Qadiri callsthe G ul f ’s “ c on sumer -cultur e  r o b otde se rt” ,t ee nagelif e revol ves around  th emall, videog am es and sat ell ite TV. Al-M ari a reme mb ers sneak ing  into  the m e jus, t he men’ssi d e of t h e house , on ce e veryone was aslee p ,a nd spending lo ng nig ht s  p l a yin g v ideo games  a nd wa t ching g l ob a l sat e llite TV. “Th at was a ve r y u niqueGu lfe xperie nce,ex i sti ng purely i nsid e the tel evisio n , the v i deo gam e, the n l ate r my ph on e a nd the in ter n et. ”

Al Qa di ri  wasnine w h e n Ir aqinva ded K uwait duringthe  199 0  Gu lf Wa r. Ayear  l atershe wa s pla yi ng the Gulf war -ins pired Des ert  S tri ke  vide o  game.  “I t w as themost te r rif yi n g sc i-fi experience of  m y ch ildhood, ” sher ec al l s. Her n ew  al bum, a lso c alle d  D esert St rike i s  a naudio m em oir of  t hat  ti me. “ T he m ost su rreal th ing w a s the breakdow n  of society,a nd w he n  the y b urned the o il w e llsandt he  sk y  turn ed bl ac k .I t felt like being o nthe su rface  of the moon.  This reco r d is about  the re l ationship betw een t he virtual and real ity o f war.”She spent t he entir ety  of  th e p e r io d playing vid e o  gam es  indoor s,and the  8- bit  ga meso undtracks  influen ce  h er  c urr ent s o und. She  a ndAl -Ma ria a r e work ing o n amu si c  vi deo for th e titl etr acktha t’ s ins pire d  by  Gulf w ar memora bil i a, s uc has toystealth-bombe rs  and child re n’s  playi n g  cards.
A recurring theme in G u lf futu ris m istheubiquityofthe sh opp i ng mal l, the  loca ti onf o r eve r y th ing  f rom covert m eet ingsbe twee n the o pposite sex to wom e n’s  exercise-rou tin es.“ Y ou  ha v en ’ t s ee n  an y t hing until you’ ve seen awo m an  in abayaa ndNi kes jog ging th rough the mal l,” Al-Ma ria laugh s.  “It ’ s  abeautifulsight!”As a teen a ger,s he  reme mbe rs lea vi ngthe m all wi t h r olled -up pi ec es ofpaper  w ith phon e numbers that guys had  surre ptiti ous ly slippe d i n toher bag.“Peo ple were h avi ngso ma nyb oyfri ends on  th e  phon e.”T hese days ,  a non y m ou s teenage s e x t ing  mean s y o u’re j ustas likely to geta n explicit Blu etoo t h  pi ctu r e at  t he mall as a s cri bb l e d phonenu mber, which  might b ew hy Sa udi Ar abia b anned B l u et o oth in  mal lsin 2007.“Ba ck (in the  9 0s )  we’dsend  p re-int ernetv iral v ideos, these rea lly p r i mal a n d b izarr emoments , ” Al -Maria say s, remember ing he r cl andes tine te en age co mmu ni cations. “ T he Gulf
girl going_on “an_apeshit killing spree, which_is how_a_lot of_us_feel!”

In what Al_Qadiri calls the_Gulf’s “consumer-culture robot desert”,_teenage life revolves_around_the mall, video games and satellite TV. Al-Maria remembers sneaking into the mejus, the_men’s_side of_the_house,_once everyone was asleep, and_spending long nights playing video_games and_watching global satellite TV. “That was a very_unique_Gulf experience, existing_purely inside the television, the video game, then later_my phone and the internet.”

Al Qadiri_was nine when_Iraq_invaded_Kuwait during the 1990_Gulf War. A year later she_was playing the Gulf war-inspired Desert_Strike video game. “It was the most_terrifying sci-fi experience of my childhood,”_she recalls. Her new album,_also called_Desert Strike is an audio_memoir of that_time. “The_most surreal thing_was the breakdown of society, and_when they burned_the oil wells and the sky_turned_black. It felt_like_being_on the_surface of the_moon._This record_is_about the relationship between the virtual_and_reality of war.” She spent the entirety_of the period playing_video_games indoors, and the_8-bit game soundtracks influence her_current sound. She and Al-Maria are_working on_a music_video for the title track that’s inspired by Gulf war memorabilia,_such as toy stealth-bombers and children’s_playing cards.

A recurring theme_in Gulf_futurism_is the ubiquity_of_the shopping_mall, the location for everything from covert_meetings between_the opposite sex to women’s exercise-routines._“You haven’t seen anything_until_you’ve seen a woman in abaya_and Nikes jogging through the mall,”_Al-Maria laughs. “It’s a beautiful_sight!”_As_a teenager, she remembers leaving_the mall with rolled-up pieces of_paper with phone_numbers that guys had surreptitiously slipped into_her_bag. “People were having so many_boyfriends_on the phone.” These days, anonymous_teenage_sexting_means you’re just as likely_to get an explicit Bluetooth picture_at the mall as a scribbled phone number, which_might be why_Saudi Arabia banned Bluetooth in_malls_in_2007. “Back (in the 90s) we’d send pre-internet viral videos,_these really_primal and bizarre_moments,” Al-Maria says, remembering her clandestine teenage communications. “The Gulf