Fairuz not only lived and thrived through radio, but she also grew out of it. Her career in the 50’s can tell us a bit about why radio stations are not as relevant as they once were.

We put together an Arab Jazz mixtape that we hope is more accurate than what’s out there already. Here’s a little introduction to the big names you should know in Arab Jazz.

Recommendations for what to Listen, Watch, Read list from Morocco, featuring Bab L’Bluz, Laila Lalami, and Asmae El Moudir.

For classical music lovers and anyone who’s been looking to broaden their musical horizons, get started with what Kareem Roustom’s been listening to lately.

May ‘24’s QuarterTones mixtape is a quintessential Iraqi music compilation by shamokamonet, a platform and collective dedicated to sharing stories inspired by Iraq. 

A review of Palestinian singer Elyanna’s most recent album Woledto by Kiko Gomersall. Listen as you read track by track, as Kiko draws connections between Elyanna’s music, the diaspora, ideas of distance, longing, and the music of Fairuz. Image via Elyanna on YouTube .

Zila Demirijian interviews Philippe Zarif — better known as DJ Boshoco — and Natalie Bahhade — aka DJ Nass, the only woman Djing in Aleppo right now, on Syria’s underground music scene.

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Syria. Featuring an album by TootArd, a novel by Khaled Khalifa, and a documentary film by Taim Karesly.

Hamid El Shaeri is an Egyptian-Libyan singer, songwriter and producer who’s considered to be one of the leading figures in Arabic pop – and the “al Jeel” genre. Image via Band Camp Daily.

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Egypt. Featuring an album by Dina El Wedidi, a book by Nawal El Saadawi and a film directed by Ayten Amin.

A Quick Look at Al-Massrieen, the first Egyptian pop band. Founded by Hany Shenouda in 1977, the group brought new harmonies, electronic sounds and instruments to Egypt’s music scene. Image via Habibi Funk & Egyptian Streets.

Sabreen’s music “reflects the humanitarian and cultural reality of Palestine while highlighti

Before his solo career, Rachid Taha was part of a band called Carte de Séjour that shot to fame during the 1980s. Their cover of “Douce France” became an anti-racist anthem for Arabs across France. Image via Les Trans.

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Saudi Arabia with Moayad Alnefaie’s Bath Al Shaer, Abdulrahman Munif’s Cities of Salt and Yallah Yallah Beenah.

This month's mixtape, compiled DJ Amen Ra (aka Ramy Abou El Oyoun), introduces us to Egyptian sounds and artists we should have on our radar. The first half of the playlist focuses on the instrumental side of the producers featured & the second half highlights some of his favorite hip-hop artists.

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works from Iraq. Featuring an album by Natik Awayez, poetry by Nizak al-Mala’ika and Maysoon Pachachi’s 2021 film Our River….Our Sky.

Over his career, Wael Kodeih has gone by many names: From Aks’ser, Good Bye Schlöndorff to Rayess Bek, and his music has evolved with it. Here you’ll find the links to all the tracks mentioned in his Quartertones interview.

Our mixtape this month was compiled by record store owner Mohamad Rifaï (aka Rifo) who's behind The Lick Records in Beirut, and features some of his favorite Arabic interpretations of international hits that even your grandad might know. 

A curated Listen, Watch, Read list spotlighting works of resistance from Palestine. With work by Riad Awwan, Tawfiq Zayyad and Rakan Mayasi.

A five and half hour long mixtape created by music writer and curator Danny Hajjar to celebrates the voices of some of the best up-and-coming (but also some old favorite) musicians from the Arab world. Make sure to play it at your next party.