The first in an upcoming series of suites made with multi-tracked vocal improvisations from a graphic score. Alya Al-Sultani sings all three parts. The lyrics are from poems from Iraqi feminist poet Nazik Al-Malaika. This first suite follows a woman's journey from sexual awakening to death.
credits
released March 26, 2021
Composer: Alya Al-Sultani
Performance: Alya Al-Sultani
Recording and mixing: Alex Bonney
Recorded at Cafe Oto
Artwork: Alya Al-Sultani
Graphic Design: The Creative Balance

Three Ages of Woman / Mother

With events in Palestine as they are, Syrian refugees being handed sentences by Greek authorities of 52 years for "illegal crossing", and Iraq singing in my heart daily, I wanted to express the longing and detachment that accompanies exile and forced migration the best way I can.

The first words are from Mawtini, a poem from 1934 written by Palestinian poet Ibrahim Tuqan. The second are from Mahmoud Darwish, "My Freedom: is to be what they don't want me to be". The third, are from Fairouz's song, Nassem Alayna El-Hawa.

I hope you enjoy this second suite.

Love and respect

Alya Al-Sultani

Return / Exile

From our upcoming album Chai Party, out February 2015 as CD, vinyl and download. 

Line-up

Alya Marquardt - vocals
Rima Fand - violin
Isabela Castelvi - cello
Adam Good - oud
Greg Squared - sax
Nezih  Antakli - percussion
Adam Matta - beatbox
Reuben Radding - bass
Amina Figarova - piano

Mixing and mastering - Don Godwin

Chi Mali Wali

Foug El Nakhal - Iraqi folk song - Shamash

Baba

Dr. M

From our upcoming album Chai Party, out February 2015 as CD, vinyl and download. 

Hatha mou ansaf minek - Iraqi folk songs. Means "this is not justice from you". 

From our upcoming album Chai Party, out February 2015 as CD, vinyl and download. 

Line-up

Alya Marquardt - vocals
Rima Fand - violin
Isabela Castelvi - cello
Adam Good - oud
Greg Squared - sax
Nezih  Antakli - percussion
Adam Matta - beatbox
Reuben Radding - bass
Amina Figarova - piano

Mixing and mastering - Don Godwin

Hatha Mou Ansaf Minek

From our upcoming album Chai Party, out February 2015 as CD, vinyl and download. 

Khadri el-Chai means "Brew the tea". Iraqi folk song.

From our upcoming album Chai Party, out February 2015 as CD, vinyl and download. 

Line-up

Alya Marquardt - vocals
Rima Fand - violin
Isabela Castelvi - cello
Adam Good - oud
Greg Squared - sax
Nezih  Antakli - percussion
Adam Matta - beatbox
Reuben Radding - bass
Amina Figarova - piano

Mixing and mastering - Don Godwin

Khadri El Chai

Drum and beatbox solo from Nezih Antakli and Adam Matta in New York, improvisation around the Iraqi choubi rhythm.

From our upcoming album Chai Party, out February 2015 as CD, vinyl and download. 

Choubi

Michael

Alya Marquardt - vocals
Ali Shakir - vocals
Rima Fand - violin
Isabela Castelvi - cello
Adam Good - oud
Greg Squared - sax
Nezih  Antakli - percussion
Adam Matta - beatbox
Reuben Radding - bass
Amina Figarova - piano

Mixing and mastering - Don Godwin

Ahwak

Clemens Christian Pötzsch - piano
Shirley Smart - cello
Alya Al-Sultani - vocals

A new trio focused on Iraqi and Arabic folk music, free improvisation and alternative sounds.

Win Ya Galob - Sawa

Piano: Clemens Christian Pötzsch
Cello: Shirley Smart
Vocals: Alya Al-Sultani

This trio, Sawa, incorporates Arabic folk music, jazz, free improvisation and spoken word into their unique sound.

Bint Es Shalabye - Sawa البنت الشلبية

The Sawa trio, comprised of vocalist Alya Al-Sultani, cellist Shirley Smart and pianist Clemens Christian Poetzsch, uses the templates of iraqi and Arabic folk music and performs them in a highly improvised frame, creating a contemporary, dynamic and innovative sound. This track is from their upcoming EP, SAWA, on Two Rivers Records, out August 2016.

Chal Chal Alay - Sawa Trio - Alya Al-Sultani / Shirley Smart / Clemens C. Poetzsch

A cover of Majda Al-Roumy's Kalimat, words by Lebanese poet, Nizar Qabbani. Featuring the unique microtonal instrument, the Fluid Piano. 

Alya Al-Sultani - voice
Shirley Smart - cello
Clemens C. Poetzsch - fluid piano

Kalimat - Sawa Trio - Feat. Fluid Piano

Collaboration between Sawa and Lossy. Words by Nizar Qabbani. Please buy if you love it. All proceeds to refugee causes. 

Sawa & Lossy - Kalimat

Live at Cafe Oto, 17.11.17:

John  Edwards
Rachel Musson
Alya Al-Sultani
Pat Thomas
Corey Mwamba
Charlotte Keefe

Live at Cafe Oto - Al-Sultani / Thomas / Musson / Mwamba / Edwards / Keefe

British-Iraqi singer in London performing Arabic music, opera and contemporary music. 

Alya Al-Sultani

Pinned to spotlight

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