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Photo: Jimmy Fontaine

Faouzia has all the hallmarks of an international star. The Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist's enthralling vision for pop incorporates elements of Moroccan and Arabic music into chart-topping and stadium-ready mainstream pop stunners to unveil a sound that is uniquely hers yet universal in scope. And after years of steadily releasing music that has showcased her globe-spanning approach and earth-shattering vocal range, Faouzia's long-awaited debut album CITIZENS has finally arrived as a crystallization of everything she's worked toward.

Over the course of eight moving tracks, the future star carves out an impressive emotional depth, largely carried by jaw-dropping vocal feats. While fans will likely find a familiar comfort in previously-released singles "RIP, Love," "Puppet," and the John Legend-assisted "Minefields," that only begins to scratch the surface of what's on offer here. "Thick and Thin" serves as an impassioned statement of perseverance that slowly builds to a moment of infectious catharsis evocative of Rihanna's "Umbrella." Then there's "SoLie," a world traveling, near-dancefloor moment of escapism that you can't help but lose yourself in. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention "I Know," a striking ballad that showcases the full spectrum of Faouzia's voice, heartbreak and all.

"After years of waiting for this moment, I can finally share my first body of work with everyone who has been following this journey from the start," says Faouzia, "CITIZENS has been a true labor of love; a collection of music that best represents the path we’ve taken on this journey together, and a taste of what lies ahead. Each of these songs holds a special place in my heart for a different reason, but hearing the meaning that they take on for others is what really makes this all exciting. I can’t wait to be back on stage later this year and sing these songs with all of you!"

With CITIZENS, Faouzia not only delivers a praise-worthy debut effort but cements her future in the world of pop and beyond. This is the first chapter of a story still being told, and we can't wait to read what comes next.

Listen to CITIZENS below: