Spindle Radar: Mishaal Tamer Embarks On An Emotional Journey With New Single Painful Paradise

After breaking and severing the nerves in his left arm at nine years old, rising Saudi star Mishaal Tamer was advised to pick up an instrument as a means of physiotherapy. Learning guitar saved his arm and put him on the path of music and songwriting. Now, at just 22, Mishaal has seen overwhelming global support and has just supported OneRepublic on their sold-out European tour over the summer. Mishaal went viral overnight in the first semester of his first year in college, anonymously posting a ten-second clip of his now hit single ‘Can’t Love Myself’, from his dorm.

He then posted three more, garnering tens of millions of streams on Spotify globally and being sampled by hundreds of artists and producers. Mishaal is set to release his highly-anticipated debut project HOME IS CHANGING in 2024 – which will consist of 5 EPs tackling a different subject or emotion. His brand-new single, ‘PAINFUL PARADISE’, is now streaming, and we had the chance to catch up with Mishaal about his rise as an artist, his relationship with OneRepublic and his life in Saudi Arabia.

The first EP from HOME IS CHANGING is out on 13th October, titled THE DEEP.

Hey Mishaal – how are you doing today? Thanks for speaking with SPINDLE!

Hey, I’m doing good, thank you for having me! 

Huge congratulations on the release of ‘PAINFUL PARADISE!’ How do you feel now this single is out in the world?

I originally wrote this song four years ago. It was recorded during a very vulnerable time in my life and helped me get through it honestly. I’ve been holding on to it for too long. It feels great to finally let go. 

Your next EP, THE DEEP, is coming out soon, which is due to be part one of five EPs to create your debut album, Home Is Changing. Would you be able to tell us a little more about this project and what it means to you?

Home is Changing is a story of transformation and a journey out of the darkness. Out of a deep dark hole where when standing in the bottom you see no light, only hopeless darkness. Naturally, this is where our story begins, Chapter 1, The Deep, is all about finding yourself in rock bottom. One can only go up from there. 

You’ve had some incredible success already, with some of your videos going viral early on when you were studying in New York. What was your experience like studying in NY, especially after finding this level of recognition so early on in your time there?

I remember once in my dormitory, I noticed a couple of times hearing a song of mine, ‘Kid Goku,’ being played by a neighbor in the hall. It always made me smile, but I was too shy to ever say it was me. During this time, I used to hide away a lot, I was going through a lot. 

You’ve just come off tour with OneRepublic this summer, and they’ve been amazing supporters of you so far. How did this relationship come to fruition?

They’ve been absolutely incredible, and I am so grateful for everything they’ve done and continue to do. They really are my heroes, first musically and now even with my own career! It was a mix I’d say of people being in the right place at the right time with just the right amount of preparation. I have to give credit to Drew Chaffee from SpaceBar, though, as he was the first to reach out to make this happen, and he’s both a great friend, trustworthy peer, and his company SpaceBar has actually been doing every single show I’ve ever done since my first performance ever which was mdlbeast 2021. 

You’ve also just collaborated with OneRepublic on a single for the new Assassin’s Creed soundtrack, which is super exciting! Gaming has also had a huge impact on your career, with some of your singles created from collaborating with producers over gaming platforms. How did it feel being able to create success from two of your biggest passions? Are you a big Assassin’s Creed fan?

In 2007, I watched a music video for the first time, ‘Apologize’ by OneRepublic and Timbaland. Ten years later, they became the first pop/rock band to play in my home country KSA since the music ban was lifted in 2017. This inspired me to upload my own music to the internet that same year: a roughly ten-second clip of ‘Can’t Love Myself,’ which was luckily sampled by the Lofi community and is what began my career as a musician. To be featured in a song with the musical heroes that inspired me to go for it as a musician myself is surreal, to say the least. Words cannot express my gratitude. Assassins Creed 1 (which also came out in 2007) was my childhood favourite game because it was the first time I got to play as an Arab protagonist in a video game. To this day, AC is my all-time favorite gaming franchise, and I am honored to be a part of Assassins Creed’s return to its roots with ‘Mirage’. Although my music is mainly in English, I decided to mix in Arabic into my verse on ‘Mirage’, much like how many K-pop artists nowadays mix Korean/English in their songs. This means the absolute world to me and truly forms a full circle as a OneRepublic fan, an Assassins Creed fan and an Arab.

Have you always been musical? What music did you grow up listening to in your family home?

Yes, I always loved music. A lot of singles, but l it was only the greats; Michael Jackson, Elvis, The Beatles, AbdelHalim Al Hafez, Amr Diab, Um Kulthum. My first time hearing an album was 2016, Frank Ocean’s Blonde. 

What do you hope fans will take away from Home Is Changing?

When you fall, no matter how far, don’t give up. You will find your way back. 

What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far, and what’s a goal you hope to achieve in the next year?

Definitely the Assassins Creed’ Mirage’ single and opening for OneRepublic on tour. A goal I hope to achieve next year would be to go on my own tour for the first time. 

Any plans for headline shows this year or next?

Yes, this year will be possibly Mdlbeast in my Home Country, KSA! 

Do you have any artists in mind as dream collaborators?

It would be a dream of mine to collaborate with a K-pop artist, as the genre and culture around it is influential among the youth of my country.

Make sure to listen Mishaal Tamer’s latest track ‘PAINFUL PARADISE’ here or below.