As the final days of summer 2026 gave way to fall in Jeddah, the city seemed ready to tell its own story. Streets and public squares were awash in green for Saudi National Day, an occasion that led us to seek out an artist who did more than witness a golden age of Saudi music. He helped shape it, then continued alongside it into the present day, both a witness to its transformations and an active part of them.
That journey brought us to the majlis (guest room) of Dr. Abadi Al Johar, where he welcomed the Billboard Arabia team ahead of his September cover interview. But before he could begin telling his story, the…
