Tag: lebanon

Music from Lebanon / the US – Joseph Eid

Originally born in Liberia, Joseph Eid grew up in the suburbs of New York.  He was raised in a strict and traditional home where the arts were only supported as a hobbie and never a career.  So when it was time for college, he studied psychology and pre-med but all the while, he was always dreaming about a career in music.  After his first semester in Medical school, the dream got too big to hold and Joseph made the bold choice of dropping out and moving to New York City to pursue music.  He joined a band, picked up a guitar, and the songs poured out like rain.  His journey led him to Los Angeles in 2007 where he started playing regularly at open mikes and showcases.  Shortly after, he began working with world-renowned guitarist/songwriter David Lamar, honing his songwriting at weekly showcases at the Stone Bar, leading the prolific singer/songwriter to write over 30 new songs as well as record his Debut EP Cardiac Output (josepheidmusic.com).

The result of his work is his first released studio album ‘Human’ on november 19th. Listen to his first single “Ready Now”, an amazing piece, where Eid is playing with the rythm and a lush instrumentation. Also a really good video!

Music from Lebanon – Fasateen

From their Facebook Page : Born of a nocturnal encounter at the American University of Beirut in 2008, Mashrou’ Leila is a six-member band that fuses the craftiness of a music workshop with the punch of stadium rock. With their distinct approach to storytelling and orchestration, they have crafted some of the most melancholic ballads and raucous anthems in contemporary alternative Arabic music, and went on to perform them live at sold-out venues in Lebanon, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul, Dubai, Tunis, Paris, Amsterdam, Montreal, Geneva, Serbia and international festivals such as Byblos, Baalbeck, BabelMed, Paleo and Exit.

Their eponymous debut album and the 7al Romacy EP unfold like cinematographic fictions starring lovesick characters in desolate motels or wandering insomniacs in ghostly cities. At times quirky and playful, at others bitter and somber, the songs demonstrate the band’s great versatility in dealing with musical form, narrative, and social issues.

Their third album, recorded at Hotel2Tango Studios in Montreal will be released in 2013.

Here is their song – Mashrou Leila

Music from Lebanon – Rabih Abou-Khalil

Rabih Abou-Khalil, born in 1957, is a libanese oud player and jazz and world music musician. Here’s his nice song “No Mar Das Tuas Pernas”:

Music from Lebanon – Soap Kills

Soap kills was an indie electro-pop band based in Lebanon. The group was formed in October 1997 when Zeid Hamdan and Yasmin Hamdan, both born in Beirut in 1976 but not related, decided to explore and combine their interest in classical Arabic song and electronic music.(wiki)

What a great sound , it starts slowly like  a folk song , be patient and listen a little bit longer you will be astonished , i promise it to you , hear their song “Arabesque ”

Music from Lebanon – Ara Malikian

Ara Malikian is a lebanese violinist .  He  He gave his first concert at the age of 12, and today plays at  Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid. Listen him playing a gipsy song .

listen to his funny video, playing Canon in D, with the group Pagagnini.