On July 3, Rotterdam-based artist, songwriter and producer Nouri Frenken introduced Ohnoah with the release of ‘Student Loans’, a debut that signals a new chapter. Having earned gold records and chart success through work with international names including Steve Aoki, Miss Montreal and Wulf, Frenken now shifts from acclaimed collaborator to lead voice in alternative pop, drawing on a catalog of over 100 releases and an award-winning track record.
’Student Loans‘ transforms the weight of financial stress and social pressure into a visceral listening experience, making these struggles almost palpable through its alternative sound. The track opens with a sparse, taut arrangement that mirrors mounting anxiety, then bursts into a lively crescendo powered by infectious guitars and sharp drums, capturing the pulse of student life. It is easy to imagine this song anchoring the soundtrack of a Netflix series about twenty-somethings wrestling with the very challenges the lyrics lay bare. For Ohnoah, songwriting became a lifeline after fleeing an abusive home at 17, a compass for navigating the complexities of growing up non-binary and queer within North African and Italian traditions. Through music, Ohnoah discovered both refuge and identity. The mark of a true artist is the ability to write from lived experience and deliver it with unwavering conviction, and that is precisely what Ohnoah achieves with ‘Student Loans’.
Ohnoah had this to say: “For a decade, I gave my best lyrics and productions to others just so I wouldn’t have to face my own reality. ‘Student Loans‘ is the realization that you start at a disadvantage before you even get to shape your own life. We are expected to perform and forge big plans for the future while our foundation is shaking. I just saw free money and a way out of the hell of my household, not knowing what 60k in debt means. This song doesn’t sugarcoat the raw reality, but it offers a shelter for everyone who feels invisible.“
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