Bootleg Magic with Alya Mooro & Nasri Atallah

We talk about the world looking a bit like its old self again, why we've been away for a month, what Bootleg Magic will be focussing from this point onwards (hint: showcasing Arab creatives), what it's like to live in the diaspora when things are happening back home, about the TV show Nasri made in lockdown and our usual recap of the week and pop culture recommendations. 

We caught up with the brilliant MAY CALAMAWY who plays Dena on the Hulu hit TV series RAMY. We spoke about the events unfolding the US, where she lives, and about our own reckoning around race and racism happening in communities in Arab World. She told us what it's like being on a show loved for its representation of Arabs in the diaspora, working with Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali, how a very personal story of hers made it into the show and much more. Don't forget to rate the show and subscribe, it helps others find us. 

We catch up with Alya's mate Joss, who works at Wired PR where they take care of some of the biggest names in music like AJ Tracey, Goldlink, Stormzy and Jorja Smith, to name a few. We talk about what the pandemic means for the music industry, musicians and journalists. We also catch up about more down to earth things like the joys of walking a dog or making fresh pasta. And, as always, we end on our Highlight/Lowlight and Recommendations from the world of pop culture. 

Alya and Nasri are both British-Arab writers, now stuck at home like everyone else. They discuss what's been keeping them sane, Tinder chats in the time of isolation, whether it's illegal to walk 6 feet away from a friend in the park and introduce what Bootleg Magic is going to be about.