Soraia Rule With Queens & Pharaohs

The Philly garage-rockers’ powerful new single delivers an anthem of manifestation.

Soraia take a regal stance on romance in their royally entertaining new single Queens & Pharaohs — showcasing today on Tinnitist.

Self-realization comes slowly. Often, those closest to us recognize the need for change long before we do. For Soraia frontwoman ZouZou Mansour, that reckoning came when a dear friend had to point out her mounting physical and mental health struggles. This set off a profound energy shift. Mansour canceled a tour for the first time in her career, cut ties with toxic collaborators, and made long-overdue changes in her personal and professional life.

“My friend said, ‘Your body is screaming for you to stop, but you’re not listening,’” Mansour recalls. “I didn’t allow myself to stop. I didn’t allow myself a lot of things. I got to a point where I was tired of my own shit, and this past year has been like a rebirth. I don’t know what the future holds — the band feels like it’s in a caterpillar stage — but I’m not scared.”

The Philly garage-rock quartet are now releasing a series of singles documenting that metamorphosis. The new songs present a rising sense of empowerment through exploring strong female lead narratives, and featuring fist-pumping choruses and cinematic musicality. In addition, this batch of tunes are the first to be written and recorded before being played live, so they exude a thrilling, band-discovering-itself immediacy.

Photo by Cassandra Panek.

The single Queens & Pharaohs is a dynamically expansive song that theatrically unfolds with pent-up verses, explosive choruses, pounding drums, ruggedly catchy hooks, and a climactic solo infused with a Middle Eastern melody honoring Mansour’s Egyptian father. The song embodies Soraia’s newly expansive and more complex sound while documenting Mansour stepping into the healthy love she knows she deserves. It is a song of manifestation and you hear that in the second verse:

“I want fireworks at night
I want the hero’s laughter (ha ha ha)
I think I’m wrapped too tight
We’re breaking through the rafters
I’m drifting in the tides
Lifting in your waves
Sinking in your eyes
Let’s make a love that’s brave.”

“I’m not settling anywhere anymore, and I love it. Like, ‘Who is this woman? She’s such a badass,’ ” Mansour exclaims.

Sessions for the three singles were co-produced by Mansour and Jon-Mikal Bartee of Detroit garage-punk band The Idiot Kids. Bartee also contributed guitars alongside Justin Mazer (guitar), John Hildenbrand (keys) and longtime core members Smith and Sig. The songs were recorded in a barn previously used for songwriting and rehearsals. Five tracks were recorded in total, all earmarked for Soraia’s upcoming album.

Photo by Cassandra Panek.

Soraia have toured with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Bon Jovi, and opened for Steven Van Zandt & The Disciples of Soul, Sixx:A.M., Story Of The Year and Wolfmother, among others. They have played Philadelphia’s MMRBQ, Chicago’s Motoblot and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.

Check out Queens & Pharaohs above, hear more from Soraia and see their tour dates below, and bend the knee on their website, Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.

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Photo by Cassandra Panek.

Soraia Rule With Queens & Pharaohs

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