Mustafa, widely known as Mustafa the Poet, is a new age folk artist who has dedicated years honoring the struggles that have shaped his identity. Beginning as a poet at 12, he offered glimpses into his upbringing amidst poverty and violence in Toronto’s Regent Park housing project. His debut project, When Smoke Rises (2021), quickly established him as a one-of-a-kind artist, intertwining lyrics which honour the struggles that formed him with folk music for a wholly singular sound. Mustafa’s versatility as a songwriter is evident through his work across genres, contributing to artists such as The Weeknd, Charlotte Day Wilson, Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber. For Mustafa’s upcoming music, we see him in a new light where he speaks on navigating the world as a young Muslim coming to terms with faith, spirituality and God. Additionally, Mustafa has collaborated with esteemed artists across various fields to bring his vision to life; working alongside the likes of Aaron Dessner, Snow Alegra, DJ Dahi, Dylan Wiggins, Rosalía, Daniel Caesar, and others in the realm of music, and joining forces with talents such as Ramy Youssef, Nabil Elderkin, Hiam Abbas, and more in the visual arts.