- country:Czechia
- style(s):Beat, Ethnic
- label:Indies Scope Records
- artist posted by:Indies Scope Records
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AL-YAMAN (Czech /Yemen /Israel / Palestine)
Sound of this Prague’s outfit, inspired by traditional and popular songs of Yemen and other countries of Arabic world, is a fusion of acoustic instruments and electronic beats – a new progressive dance music.
Yemeni singer Ashwaq Abdulla Kulaib brings a strong Arabic influence into the music. Her singing is an emotional expression mainly of traditional spiritual songs and her own experiences of life. She came to Prague in 1990 from Aden, Yemen to study and stayed. Composer, multiinstrumentalist and producer Al-esh (guitar, saz, keyboards, sampler) has worked with various bands since 1986. In 2000 he met Ashwaq and took the opportunity to form a project of oriental music, using modern technologies and traditional instruments. Short time later he met Israeli drummer Jonathan Omer who came to Prague in 1999 and decided to stay and cooperate with various bands and artists. The involvement of experienced and well respected Czech musicians such as Tomas Reindl (tabla, djembe, congas, percussion, didgeridoo, loops) and basist Jan Lstiburek and darbuka player Bashar Ashhab from Palestine is an important part of the band experience.
Very quickly after its first live performance in 2001 year, the band became a regular member of both club and festival scene in the Czech republic. Innovative, fresh and attractive sound, fusion of arabic tunes, ragga, dub and electronic dance music elements together with traditional acoustic instruments and last but not at least exotic voice and stage show of the singer Ashwaq, this all has brought to the band huge response and respect. Both Al-esh and Ashwaq have got many proposals for cooperation from such a names like Transglobal Underground, Asian Dub Foundation or Natasha Atlas, to name a few only.
The band’s debut album “Hurriya” (Freedom) was released by highly respected CZ label INDIES Rec. in 2004 and in addition to 12 original tracks it contains 2 remixes from Transglobal Underground and Hypnotix and also Muashahat video klip. The CD reached very good reactions in radios and the song „Dhykrayat” appered on German CLUBSTAR Records’ compilation “Harem’s Secret 2”. The album was nominated for Czech Music Award - ANDEL in the World Music category.
SELECTED PERFORMANCES:
Thanks to their emotional songs, attractive sound and successful club gigs the Al-Yaman already presented their set on all big and well-known Czech festivals and also in abroad:
- Colours of Ostrava /CZ
- Creamfields /CZ,
- Ethnoland Festival, Moscow /RUS
- Planet Roxy festival /CZ,
- Reggae Ethnic Session /CZ
- Respect festival, Prague /CZ
- Salam Orient Festival, Joe Zawinul’s Birdland, Vienna /A etc.
and toured together with these acts:
- Transglobal Underground, Banco de Gaia, Loop, Aiwa.
Al-Yaman comes with diverse and extensive attitude of multicultural creativity and direct message of unity… LET`S UNITE !