Tamino - 'Babylon'
Belgian-Egyptian singer Tamino releases his highly anticipated single ‘Babylon’, offering fans a first glimpse of his upcoming album – ‘Every Dawn’s a Mountain’.
Tamino, often dubbed the “Belgian Jeff Buckley”, first rose to fame when his debut single ‘Habibi’ caught the attention of BBC Radio 1. Since then, he has released two albums – Amir and Sahar – and has newly announced his third, Every Dawn’s a Mountain, which is set for release on 21 March, 2025. Subsequently, he has toured across Europe and also opened for Mitski on her 2024 tour, an artist who features on the upcoming album.
Alongside the announcement of his upcoming album, Tamino released ‘Babylon’ on streaming platforms, followed by a live version filmed on rooftops. Though officially released on Tuesday, many fans had already experienced the song live at his shows, desperately asking for him to release it. Known for his expansive vocal range, melancholic imagery, and signature falsetto, Tamino continues to explore these themes in this song.
In ‘Babylon’, a track Tamino describes as the “cornerstone” of his new album, he weaves themes of regret, disconnection, longing, and nostalgia. The song begins with an ambient drone and delicately plucked guitar, evoking imagery of an emperor watching his kingdom crumble. This powerful introduction offers a glimpse of what lies ahead.
His voice enters majestically – an arresting blend of Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Matt Maltese – singing of his “Babylon”, “treasures”, and a “rotting garden”, setting a hauntingly bleak tone. In the hook, “Is it our time that’s hollow? Or is it my chest”, he expresses regret, almost questioning if anything was ever real, perfectly capturing the complexity of love and loss.
The song continues with archaic imagery, extending the Babylonian metaphor with the line, “Oh, Babylon, you fake, your walls are built to break”. Heartbreak and distrust seep through every verse, giving the lyrics a raw, emotional edge. What makes this track truly remarkable is not only how Tamino draws from the epic fall of Babylon but also how the music itself induces a sense of ancient grandeur, reinforcing the weight of history and inevitability decay.
‘Babylon’ is one of 10 tracks on ‘Every Dawn’s a Mountain’, scheduled for release on March 21, 2025. Fans can also look forward to seeing Tamino live, as tickets for his North America tour go on sale on October 18th.
Words by Elise-Sophia Remillard
