Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

afikra

Quartertones is a music podcast which hosts current Arab musicians from different geographies who play contemporary and modern music, including pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic, classical, among other genres. The guests are invited to talk about their work and play their music – whether live or recorded – in three segments. The audience gets a chance to listen to work from across the region and genres that is defining the scene in the region, and understand the music that these musicians and musicologists perform or study.

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Top 10 Quartertones | Music from the Arab World Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Quartertones | Music from the Arab World episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Quartertones | Music from the Arab World for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Quartertones | Music from the Arab World episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Reinterpreting Traditional & Popular North African Music | Khalil EPI

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

07/17/24 • 58 min

This QuarterTones episode is exceptionally in French and is hosted by our Outline host, Sabine Boghossian.

We chat with Khalil Hentati (EPI) a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and essential figure in North Africa's alternative, electronic and contemporary music scenes. He shares the stories behind the origins of his collaborations and dives into the musical traditions of North Africa — namely Aïta and Isawiyya – discussing the disappearance of these oral traditions. Khalil talks about the music that inspired him as a teenager, and how "shaabi" music is perceived and understood today. He finally, reflects on the impact of the Tunisian revolution on politics, culture and music, as well as the state of the musical ecosystem in North Africa today.

Khalil EPI is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, and an essential figure in the electronic and contemporary effort in reinterpreting traditional and popular North African music, he has been collaborating for years with artists such as N3rdistan, Frigya, Dhamma, Deena Abdelwahed, and Arabstazy. He is also the manager of French-Tunisian label Shouka. (via Bandcamp)

Connect with Khalil 👉 https://www.instagram.com/khalilepi/

Hosted by:

Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#ElectronicMusic #NorthAfrica #NorthAfricanMusic #AlternativeMusic

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

How JadaL Pioneered Arabic Rock From Jordan

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

07/03/24 • 57 min

In this episode of QuarterTones, we're joined by the frontman of pioneering Jordanian rock band, JadaL. Mahmoud Radaideh tells us about how the band popularized the genre in the Arab world, reflecting on his journey as a musician, and the shifting moment when an artist realizes that their work no longer belongs to them solely – but to their audience even more so. With each musical interlude, we hear about the stories behind some of JadaL's best known tracks, learn more about Jordan's music scene, and the short but rich history of Arabic rock.

Mahmoud Radaideh is a Jordanian songwriter, guitarist, music producer and vocalist, and the frontman and founder of Jordanian rock band JadaL.

Connect with Mahmoud 👉https://www.instagram.com/mahmoud_radaideh

JadaL is a Jordanian Arabic Rock Band formed in 2003 by Mahmoud Radaideh. To date, the band has released four albums. Their most recent album was La Tlou' El Daw.

Discover JadaL 👉https://www.instagram.com/jadalband/

Discover JadaL's music 👉https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRgg-xikydVXprYmlVjmqEg

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#ArabicRock #ArabRock #ArabMusic #MiddleEasternMusic

Is There a Sound That's Unique to Arab America? | Ronnie Malley

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

06/19/24 • 56 min

Multi-instrumentalist musician and musicologist Ronnie Malley shares his immense knowledge of Arabic classical music, touring us through the fundamentals of the musical canon and the sounds, songs and rhythms that define it. He tells us about his early exposure to Arabic music in Chicago playing for his father's bands, through thousands of wedding performances, to building a career alongside some of the biggest names in Arabic music. We learn about the history of Arabic music from Al-Andalus, the Ottoman Empire and all the way to India, and how Ronnie seeks to bring these sounds together in his own Arab-American context. To round the interview off, he shares some of the best Arab musicians that we should all be listening to.

Ronnie Malley is a Palestinian-American multi-instrumentalist musician on oud, guitar, keys, and percussion, a music producer, theater maker, and educator. He is also executive director of Intercultural Music Production. Malley’s professional work and academic research focuses on cultures and various musical styles from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and medieval Spain.

Connect with Ronnie 👉https://www.instagram.com/ronniemalley/

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

Behind the Scenes: Alternative Music in Beirut | Fadi Tabbal

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

06/05/24 • 63 min

Fadi Tabbal is a hidden giant of Beirut's alternative music scene. He joins us in our studio in Beirut to talk about the music he's produced over the years, the independent musicians on the rise, and the work that his studio – Tunefork studios – is doing. He compares the music scenes in Beirut, Cairo and Dubai, and explains how there are no records or archives of the alternative music that came before the last decade. He takes us on a journey through the 70s to the 2000s and 2010s, talks about music in the internet age, and tells us how Red Bull shaped the music scene in Lebanon for a period of time.

Fadi Tabbal is a Lebanese musician, producer and sound engineer often referred to as "the hardest-working man in Lebanon's alternative music scene." He established Tunefork Studios in 2006 and has produced and recorded some of the most renowned Lebanese and international acts in the contemporary music scene in Lebanon today.

Connect with Fadi 👉 https://kr-music.com/

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#AlternativeMusic #Beirut #Lebanon #ArabMusic

Palestinian Hip-Hop Artist The Synaptik | Quitting Ritalin & Making Music

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

05/22/24 • 83 min

From medic to musician, Amman to Palestine, and quitting Ritalin, The Synaptik is a multifaceted musician who has grown out of change and transition. In this QuarterTones episode filmed live in afikra's studio in Beirut, The Synaptik tells us about his adolescence in Jordan defined by frustration and Ritalin, which was prescribed to him at a young age. He shares how the drug impacted him and how his life changed as he weaned off it; what he learnt about himself through music; and why he chose to build his career in Palestine.

Laith Hasan, better known as The Synaptik, is a Celebrated Palestinian-Jordanian rapper and hip-hop artist with shows selling out worldwide. He started writing music since he was 17 and living in Jordan and finally moved to Palestine where he currently resides. His albums include Al Qamar Wal Moheet, Ma Qabl Al Tawafan, and Om Al Mawjat.

Connect with The Synaptik 👉 https://www.instagram.com/thesynaptik/?hl=en

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#HipHop #RapMusic #PalestinianRap #PalestineMusic

Kareem Roustom | Defining Classical Arabic Music with the Emmy-Nominated Composer

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

05/08/24 • 68 min

Emmy-nominated composer Kareem Roustom joins us on Quartertones to discuss all things Arabic music. With musical interludes from across his albums, we talk about the origins of Arabic Classical Music, current and previous perceptions around it, and the pioneers of the genre including Sayed Darwish and Sabah Fakhri. We get to grips with what defines Arabic music, hear about what it's like to get an Emmy nomination, and whether it was fun to work with Shakira and Tina Turner.

Check out what Kareem Roustom's been listening to lately 👉 https://www.afikra.com/daftarjournal/kareem-roustom

Kareem Roustom is a Syrian-American composer whose genre-crossing collaborations include music commissioned by conductor Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the Kronos Quartet, arrangements for pop icons Shakira and Tina Turner, as well as a recent collaboration with acclaimed British choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh. A musically bilingual composer, Roustom is rooted in the music of the Arab near-east but his music often expresses beyond the confines of tradition. The themes of a number of his works often touch issues of those affected by war and instability.

Connect with Kareem 👉 https://kr-music.com/

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#ClassicalArabicMusic #Composer #Composition #EmmyNominated

Best Buzuq Players of All Time | Farah Kaddour

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

04/24/24 • 56 min

Buzq player and musicologist Farah Kaddour, joins us in the afikra studio in Beirut to give us a tour of her music and her instrument. Alongside musical interludes and live performances, we talk about the specific sound and identity of the Buzq and Farah's individual performance style. She tells us about how she experiments with the sound she's able to create with the Buzq and how playing this traditional instrument is in itself a form of political resistance. Finally she tells us about her first solo project — Badā — which consists of a mix of composed and improvised music.

Farah Kaddour is a Beirut-based musician and researcher. She holds a master’s degree in Musicology from the Antonine University. She works mainly in the field of folk and classical Arabic music, and attempts to rediscover and experiment with the sound of the Buzq by shedding light on the intersection between the identity of its sound, and the identity of a new, yet rooted music she presents both as a soloist, and active member on a range of diverse collaborations. As a Buzq player and composer, she is a part of TILT and SANAM. In the summer of 2023, she released with SANAM their first debut album “Aykathani Malakon” on UK-based label Mais Um. She is releasing her first solo album “Badā” on Canadian label Asadun Alay.

Connect with Farah 👉 https://www.instagram.com/farah.kad/?hl=en

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#ClassicalArabicMusic #Maqam #Buzuq #Buzq

Third Culture Music: Belonging Beyond Geographies | Oddisee

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

04/10/24 • 51 min

At Sole DXB in December 2023, Oddisee joined afikra on stage for a live episode of Quartertones. Using his music as an entryway, this conversation journeys from D.C. to NYC all the way to Sudan. We learn about Oddisee's musical influences and how he blends soundscapes from iconic musical eras and his own heritage.

With each musical interlude, we dive deeper into Oddisee's creative process, the inspiration and stories behind his music, and how he seeks to explore questions of identity, whiteness, racism and hypocrisy through rap. He shares anecdotes of "being too Sudanese to perform at the Whitehouse" and yet "too American to perform in Amman" post October 7th, as well as instances of other facets of his identity "excusing" his blackness in the USA. This is a captivating discussion that touches on themes of colonialism, cross-culture commonalities and difference, and finding one's place and position in what, ultimately, is a very small world.

ODDISEE (Amir Mohamed el Khalifa), is a half Black American and half Sudanese rapper and record producer from Washington, D.C. He is one third of the rap trio Diamond District. He was also part of the Low Budget Crew.

Connect with ODDISEE 👉 https://www.instagram.com/oddisee/?hl=en

Sole DXB is an annual footwear, music, art, and lifestyle festival that takes place in the Dubai Design District in Dubai, UAE. It launched in 2011 as a modest gathering for sneaker enthusiasts and has since grown into a regional platform that brings global brands and performers to Dubai.

afikra partnered with Sole DXB in December 2023 to facilitate and moderate some talks as part of the festival.

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

Can Beirut's Haunted Buildings Help It Heal From Its Civil War? | Mayssa Jallad

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

03/20/24 • 70 min

In this episode of Quartertones, musician, architect and urban researcher Mayssa Jallad joins us in the afikra studio in Beirut to talk about her latest, deeply researched work “Marjaa: Battle of the Hotels”. The album brings together her passion for music and her background in urban research and architectural history.

She recounts her interest in buildings and her relationship to her city, Beirut. She shares how the album was born out of her Historic Preservation master’s thesis, and gives the critical historical context to the “Battle of the Hotels” after which the album is named: a five-month long battle that took place in Beirut between Oct 1975 and March 1976, and the world’s first “urban battle”.

Maysaa Jallad is a Lebanese singer, songwriter and urban researcher based in Beirut.

Connect with Mayssa 👉https://www.instagram.com/mayssajallad/?hl=en

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

ABOUT AFIKRA

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts

⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Why You Should Invest in Beirut's Music Scene | Sharif Sehnaoui

Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

07/31/24 • 58 min

What makes experimental music...experimental? And what does it take to cultivate a thriving musical scene in the context of the Arab world? In this episode of QuarterTones, Sharif Sehnaoui joins us in our studio in Beirut to talk about the genre in the Arab world, the cultural significance and economic value of music, why his work is in itself an act of resistance, and Lebanon's unique position where the music and creative scenes are considered.

Sharif Sehnaoui is a free improvisation guitarist and the director of "Irtijal" an International festival of experimental music – and the longer running music festival in Beirut. He also runs two record labels: Al Maslakh & Annihaya.

Connect with Sharif 👉 https://x.com/sharifsehnaoui

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

#ArabWorld #MiddleEast #ExperimentalMusic #Beirut #Lebanon