Tarab

5.0 (1)
MUSIC INTERVIEWS

Explore the creative worlds of the Middle East’s most compelling musicians through candid, behind-the-scenes conversations that reveal the voices shaping the region’s evolving music scene.

3 DAYS AGO

Ya'koob Al Refaie on Sons of Yusuf and Kuwaiti hip-hop

On this week's episode of Tarab, host Saeed Saeed dives into Khaliji hip-hop with Ya'koob Al Refaie, one half of Kuwait's groundbreaking sibling duo, Sons of Yusuf. Joining The National from Kuwait City, Ya'koob discusses their second album, Granada, a project crafted across continents that draws inspiration from spirituality, Islamic art, and history.

27 min
9 SEPT

Adnan Joubran on Le Trio, Mahmoud Darwish, and hearing Palestine

The music of Adnan Joubran is more than a family affair. A member of Le Trio Joubran – the Palestinian oud ensemble formed with his brothers Samir and Wissam – the Nazareth-born musician grew up in a house filled with sound: a father who was a master oud maker and a mother who was a singer. Carrying that legacy forward on stage has become more than keeping a tradition alive. For over two decades, whether solo or with the trio, Joubran has performed on stages from Ramallah to New York, transmitting the culture of Palestine through music built on the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and collaborations with figures such as Roger Waters and Brian Eno. Each song recorded and concert played is as much a celebration of Palestinian culture as it is a form of resilience. In this episode of Tarab, ahead of London shows at the Barbican Centre on November 29 and a solo performance at Wembley Arena on September 17 at the Together for Palestine event, host Saeed Saeed speaks to Joubran about touring during the Israel-Gaza war and using the studio as a space of resistance and healing.

32 min
2 SEPT

Felukah on code-switching, song-building and 'Arabeezy'

Egyptian rapper and poet Felukah has carved out a place in Arabic hip-hop through a style that moves easily between Cairo and New York, English and Arabic. Since her 2019 debut, Citadel, she has built a body of work that blends hip-hop, neo-soul and regional influences, while maintaining her independence in an industry dominated by major labels. In this episode of Tarab, host Saeed Saeed speaks with Felukah about her path from Cairo to New York, code-switching in her lyrics, and what it meant to perform at the Recording Academy’s showcase in New York as part of the Mena chapter’s launch. Tarab is a weekly podcast taking listeners inside the Middle East’s music scene through conversations with its artists. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all podcast platforms.

23 min
26 AUG

Yasmine Hamdan on new solo album and the legacy of SoapKills

Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan remains one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Arabic music. She forged a trailblazing career with the seminal band SoapKills before going solo, following a path defined by restless energy and a search for new forms of expression. Her latest album, I Remember I Forget, continues that journey, drawing on themes of memory, exile and distance. Written and recorded in Paris, Sicily and Beirut, the work is both personal and political, shaped by regional dislocation and the freedoms and costs of life abroad. In this debut episode of the Tarab podcast, host Saeed Saeed speaks to Hamdan about the making of the album, the legacy of SoapKills and how living outside Lebanon influences her voice and artistic vision. Tarab is a new weekly podcast that takes listeners inside the Middle East’s music scene through candid conversations with the region's artists. A new episode drops every Tuesday across all podcast platforms.

33 min
TRAILER

Tarab Trailer

Tarab is a new weekly music podcast hosted by The National’s Saeed Saeed that takes you inside the Middle East’s music scene. The first season brings you conversations with some of the region’s most captivating voices, from genre-defying performers to industry visionaries. You’ll hear from artists reshaping Gulf hip-hop, reinventing Arab music, using the piano as a call for peace and bringing jazz, folk and R&B to audiences in the region, all while elevating Arab music on the global stage. A new episode drops every Tuesday across all podcast platforms.

2 min

TRAILER

Tarab Trailer

Tarab is a new weekly music podcast hosted by The National’s Saeed Saeed that takes you inside the Middle East’s music scene. The first season brings you conversations with some of the region’s most captivating voices, from genre-defying performers to industry visionaries. You’ll hear from artists reshaping Gulf hip-hop, reinventing Arab music, using the piano as a call for peace and bringing jazz, folk and R&B to audiences in the region, all while elevating Arab music on the global stage. A new episode drops every Tuesday across all podcast platforms.

14 Aug

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2 min

Explore the creative worlds of the Middle East’s most compelling musicians through candid, behind-the-scenes conversations that reveal the voices shaping the region’s evolving music scene.