In a Dubai recording studio, hijab-clad Ghaliaa Chaker tunes her guitar and belts out original songs as she builds a career that is turning heads for more than just her music. She offers not only a unique sound but also an unusual look in a region where artists who wear the hijab, the head covering characteristic of Muslim women, are few and far between. "The music mixture in the house was always rich," says the 26-year-old Syrian multi-instrumentalist, influencing her sound which she describes as a mix of R&B, hip hop, electro pop, indie and jazz. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES