In a moment when Lebanese voices are largely being ignored, First Floor highlights some of the country's most crucial experimental and electronic artists.
Thanks a lot for this, Shawn! I think it's much needed right now, with the ongoing aggression and media reducing people to numbers, that we hear directly from the source.
Amazing list, thank you for doing this. I've been spinning non-stop the latest one from Praed, a Swiss-Lebanese experimental duo. Joyful and infectious: https://annihayarecords.bandcamp.com/album/al-wahem
Thank you for compiling this! A Ruptured Records release I wholeheartedly recommend is Ghadr’s debut record. I saw them at Le Guess Who? last year and was absolutely mesmerized.
Thanks so much, Shawn, this is great. I was introduced to this scene last year via potent LPs by Yasmine Hamdan and Sanam, respectively (both have tracks on the Land comps). I wrote about those LPs on my Substack, and did a pretty deep dive, but most of this is new. Look forward to listening.
Would definitely add the Beirut band Sanam (formed following an invitation to collaborate with Faust’s Hans Joachim Irmler) to the list. Their debut ‘ Aykathani Malakon’ is especially good.
Fadi Tabbal and Julia Sabra’s solo works are well worth checking.
Buzuq player Farah Kaddour’s 2024 LP ‘Bada’ is a gem and her 2025 collaboration with Marwan Tohme ‘Ghazel’ is equally great. Both are members of Sanam.
Really good piece and fantastic recommendations, some of which I had never heard of!
I was actually just listening to the new project by Lebanese-Canadian Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (1/2 of Jerusalem in My Heart) in collaboration with Frédéric D. Oberland, absolutely fantastic release.
great list and very timely; thank you; other experimental Lebanese artists I can recommend are: SANAM, Mazen Kerbaj, Two or the Dragon, Wassim Halal, Fadi Tabbal, Hadi Zeidan, Joseph Doumet & Sharif Sehnaoui (several of these are included on the Anthology of Electroacoustic Lebanese music you mention)
Thanks a lot for this, Shawn! I think it's much needed right now, with the ongoing aggression and media reducing people to numbers, that we hear directly from the source.
Amazing list, thank you for doing this. I've been spinning non-stop the latest one from Praed, a Swiss-Lebanese experimental duo. Joyful and infectious: https://annihayarecords.bandcamp.com/album/al-wahem
Thank you for compiling this! A Ruptured Records release I wholeheartedly recommend is Ghadr’s debut record. I saw them at Le Guess Who? last year and was absolutely mesmerized.
Thank you for shining a light on the Lebanese scene, it’s much needed during these times indeed.
Thanks so much, Shawn, this is great. I was introduced to this scene last year via potent LPs by Yasmine Hamdan and Sanam, respectively (both have tracks on the Land comps). I wrote about those LPs on my Substack, and did a pretty deep dive, but most of this is new. Look forward to listening.
Shawn, this is great and honestly exactly the type and tone of writing I want right now. Thank you thank you thank you!
A fantastic list. Thank you for compiling this
Thank you for this beautiful and meaningful entry <3
Thank you for this. It actually makes me more interested in following/reading. Best from Ireland
Great to see this, Shawn.
Would definitely add the Beirut band Sanam (formed following an invitation to collaborate with Faust’s Hans Joachim Irmler) to the list. Their debut ‘ Aykathani Malakon’ is especially good.
Fadi Tabbal and Julia Sabra’s solo works are well worth checking.
Buzuq player Farah Kaddour’s 2024 LP ‘Bada’ is a gem and her 2025 collaboration with Marwan Tohme ‘Ghazel’ is equally great. Both are members of Sanam.
Really good piece and fantastic recommendations, some of which I had never heard of!
I was actually just listening to the new project by Lebanese-Canadian Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (1/2 of Jerusalem in My Heart) in collaboration with Frédéric D. Oberland, absolutely fantastic release.
https://rgmfdo.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-life-no-end
great list and very timely; thank you; other experimental Lebanese artists I can recommend are: SANAM, Mazen Kerbaj, Two or the Dragon, Wassim Halal, Fadi Tabbal, Hadi Zeidan, Joseph Doumet & Sharif Sehnaoui (several of these are included on the Anthology of Electroacoustic Lebanese music you mention)