After years of helping shape hits for other artists, Dutch songwriter and producer Ohnoah is finally taking centre stage. The Rotterdam-based musician, Nouri Frenken, has unveiled their debut solo single, ‘Student loans’, introducing an alternative pop project rooted in vulnerability, identity and survival.
Although this marks Ohnoah’s first release as a solo artist, Frenken is no stranger to the music industry. As a producer and songwriter, they have accumulated more than 100 production credits, earning chart success and gold certifications through collaborations with artists including Steve Aoki, Miss Montreal and Wulf.
‘Student loans’ tackles the overwhelming financial and emotional pressures facing young adults, exploring how debt and societal expectations can shape a person’s future before it has truly begun. The track pairs intimate, understated verses with explosive guitars and towering percussion, creating a sound that moves between fragile introspection and cathartic release.
The single also draws heavily from Ohnoah’s own life. At 17, they left an abusive home while navigating life as a queer, non-binary person in a conservative North African and Italian family. Those experiences became the foundation for the new project, with songwriting serving as both an escape and a means of processing trauma.
“For a decade, I gave my best lyrics and productions to others just so I wouldn’t have to face my own reality,” Ohnoah said in a statement. Describing ‘Student loans’, they added: “This song doesn’t sugarcoat the raw reality, but it offers a shelter for everyone who feels invisible.”
Listen to ‘Student loans’:
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