Released on May 22, INNA brings her signature EDM sound to her new Arabic-English single “Ya tabtab”, featuring rising artist Char Bell. The track marks a long-awaited moment for INNA, who has often spoken about wanting to release a song in Arabic, inspired by her strong Middle Eastern fanbase. That connection was first highlighted by the continued success of her hit single “Yalla”, which remains her most-viewed music video on YouTube, currently standing at half a billion views, and notably incorporated an Arabic chorus. With “Ya tabtab”, she leans further into the language, reworking Nancy Ajram’s track of the same name through a contemporary electronic lens.
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The release also serves as a continuation of INNA’s recent run of collaborations, following her track with Matoma on “Dream Out Loud”, while Char Bell builds on his own momentum following “Avec Toi” with LOS KID. He has since also teamed up with Karl Wolf on the Habibi mix of “Summer Jam”.
Written by Tarek Madkour and Bahgat Amar Ayman, “Ya tabtab” stands as a bold statement from INNA, further cementing her status as a global artist. While many mainstream acts often shy away from recording in multiple languages, INNA continues to embrace the opportunity, reinforcing the idea that music transcends borders and allowing her to connect more deeply with her international audience. Char Bell’s feature brings a dynamic electro fusion to the track, enhancing its cross-cultural appeal and marking a notable collaboration, particularly following INNA’s surprise appearance at one of his coffee pop-up DJ events last year, where clips of the moment quickly went viral and helped build momentum around the pairing.
That same sense of spontaneity has become a recurring theme in her recent journey, including a street performance in Paris last year where she joined Sergio Muñoz mid-set. The unexpected moment later led her to invite him on stage at the Zénith Paris date during her Echoes tour, fuelling speculation that a future studio collaboration between the two could now be a possibility.
The song “Ya tabtab” is a rhythmic track that explores the emotional complexities of a strained relationship. The Arabic lyrics describe a partner pleading for reconciliation and expressing frustration over the other person’s change in behaviour and emotional distance, while the English sections frame the relationship as “toxic” and highlight an inability to let go of lingering feelings. Overall, the song captures the repetitive cycle of conflict and longing that often defines a difficult romantic dynamic.
Built on addictive afro-electronic tropical production, Char Bell leaves his signature imprint on the track from the outset. Known for his remixes, including a remix of INNA’s “Sun Is Up”, his influence is evident in the layered, global soundscape that gives “Ya tabtab” a distinctly 2026-ready summer energy. INNA fully embraces the Arabic lyrics throughout, delivering them with clear intention and care, despite not being a native Arabic speaker, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to her performance.
Her vocals shine as the chorus opens into a standout hook designed to linger long after the first listen. The second verse introduces a switch to English, adding a bilingual dynamic that helps the track connect with a wider audience, before she returns to Arabic as the production builds and carries her through to the closing moments.
This new release is a cover version of Nancy Ajram’s “Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa”, the title track from her 2006 album “Ya Tabtab…Wa Dallaa”. Ajram is one of the most prominent Lebanese pop artists in the Arab world, widely recognised for helping shape modern Arabic pop music and for selling over 30 million records globally. She is also the first and only female Coca-Cola ambassador in the Arab world, having fronted multiple high-profile campaigns that blended commercial branding with original music releases.
The original track is a standout from her mid-2000s catalogue and sits within a defining era of Arabic pop, known for its upbeat, theatrical production and playful visual style. It remains one of her most recognisable hits and is her most-streamed track on Spotify, surpassing 100 million streams, continuing to perform strongly across streaming platforms and reinforcing its status as a key catalogue highlight. Two decades later, INNA and Char Bell reintroduce the track to a new generation, blending its original Arabic-pop identity with a modern EDM-driven production and INNA’s signature vocal style.
INNA is one of Romania’s most internationally successful dance-pop artists, known for blending infectious EDM production with a global pop sensibility. She first rose to prominence with her breakout single “Hot” and quickly established herself as a consistent presence across European charts and club scenes.
Over the years, she has built a strong catalogue of releases and collaborations with artists including J Balvin, Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, Flo Rida, and Sean Paul, reinforcing her position as a global crossover act in electronic pop music. In recent years, INNA has continued to maintain an active release schedule, with multiple singles and collaborations contributing to her ongoing presence in the international dance music space, alongside a packed touring calendar that includes her Echoes era performances across Europe and beyond.
Char Bell is a Paris-based, emerging DJ and producer known for his fusion of electronic, oriental, afro-inspired, and tropical club sounds, which have positioned him as a rising name within the contemporary dance music scene. His work often blends rhythmic global influences with modern EDM production, giving his tracks a distinctive festival-ready energy.
Alongside original productions and collaborations, he has also gained attention for his remix work, which includes reimagining established dance tracks and adding his own signature percussive oriental, Afro-inspired style. In recent years, Char Bell has continued to expand his profile through live performances and collaborative releases, building momentum within the international club circuit.
With “Ya tabtab”, INNA continues to position herself as an artist unafraid to bridge cultures, languages, and eras within her music, reimagining a well-established Arabic pop classic through a modern electronic lens. The collaboration with Char Bell adds a contemporary, club-driven energy to the track, reinforcing its global appeal while staying rooted in its original identity. As INNA continues to evolve her sound and expand her international reach, the release highlights her ability to rework established material for today’s global EDM landscape, connecting past and present for a new generation of listeners.
“Ya tabtab”, by INNA featuring Char Bell, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via PopArabia, Reservoir Media Management, and Global Records.
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