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Arab Artist

“Connect with Your Roots”: 40 Minutes with Firas Zreik

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Firas Zreik’s musical journey is one of passion, tradition, and exploration. A Palestinian composer and qanun player, he blends the rich sounds of Arabic music with influences from jazz and beyond. Raised in a family of musicians, Firas was immersed in music from a young age, which … Continued

“I Felt It in My Soul”: 40 Minutes with Freecheh

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Freecheh’s journey through music is one of defiance and nostalgia. A Palestinian musician and curator, she transforms dance floors into spaces of resistance and remembrance between Ramallah and Detroit. Raised on a mix of techno, Arabic pop, and revolutionary anthems, she keeps history alive through education and … Continued

“Music as an Escape”: 40 Minutes with Sommer Forrester

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Sommer Forrester’s journey through music and identity is one of blending cultures, disciplines, and personal resilience. Sommer is an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where she leads the music education program. Raised on a rich tapestry of Arabic music and Western classical influences, she … Continued

“One Foot in Tradition, One in the Future”: 40 Minutes with Mike Khoury

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Palestinian American violinist and composer Mike Khoury moves fluidly between rock bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and original works—all while staying deeply connected to his heritage. Based in Redford, Michigan, his music reflects a lifelong blend of influences, from traditional Arabic sounds to avant-garde experimentation. For Khoury, music … Continued

“I Listen to the Land Beneath Me”: 40 Minutes with Leyya Mona Tawil

By: Layan Srour / Arab America Contributing Writer Leyya’s artistry is a world of movement, sound, and resilience. A Syrian and Palestinian born in Detroit and now rooted in Oakland, California, her creative journey spans music, dance, and experimental performance. She founded Arab.AMP—a platform for experimental live art from the SWANA diaspora and beyond. Her … Continued

Etel Adnan: Arab American Art Medium Virtuosa 

By: María Teresa Fidalgo-Azize | Arab America Contributing Writer Creation is a form of thinking. It’s abandoning a certain world of preoccupations in order to enter into another. Etel Adnan, Beginning with Color: An Interview with Etel Adnan March, the assigned month to celebrate Women’s achievements, grants many a space to learn about hidden female … Continued

Afifa Iskandar, The Iraqi Blackbird

By: Menal Elmaliki / Arab America Contributing Writer Afifa Iskandar Estefan, عفيفة إسكندر إصطيفان, is one of the most famous Iraqi singers of the 20th century. She is known for her traditional style of singing. Maqam-al-Iraqi is an old musical tradition that emphasizes the beauty of language. Modern Iraqi maqam is a genre of Arabic maqam … Continued

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