What’s in a name?
A name embodies the concept of your being, your personality and your self. When you hear a name, you might smile or cry; you might laugh or be unable to speak. A name holds power and a name is close. You might hate it, you might love it, but at the end of the day, it’s your name and your name alone.
My name - my real name - is Youniss. However, this hasn’t always been the case, due to peculiar circumstances I was given a name by the local government when I was born. A name that wasn’t mine. For 24 years I had to figure out how to live in acceptance with the fact that I was living some kind of double life. To the government, schools, employers and anything official I was Robby. To my friends, family, partners and, most importantly, to myself I was Youniss.
The duality of living and switching between names felt like wearing masks. Over the years, I had come to accept Robby. He grew from being an unwanted visitor that overstayed his welcome to a necessary part of my growth that I had come to respect. The masks slowly began to fade and made room for who I really am. The day when Youniss & Robby became one officially wasn’t a celebration but the next step in a long process of identity... more
credits
released November 27, 2020
All tracks written, produced & mixed by Y. Ahamad
Additional songwriting on Fata Morgana: H. Carter & M. Maes
Additional songwriting on Oogschaduw: S. Cooremans
Vocals & Lyrics on Oogschaduw: S. Mitxelena
Songwriting, Vocals & Lyrics on Unfortunate: M. Maes
Mastered by Frederik Dejongh at Jerboa Mastering
Artwork Photography by J. Camps
Artwork by Y. Ahamad
Special thanks:
U. Demir, T. Vanacker & T. Mitxelena.
