My first attempt at working with sound without hammering my feet onto the ground, is an intuitive exploration of my throat cavity, on an evening when I was sick at home in Beirut. Inflamed by a stubborn allergy induced by remains of glass dust, my vocal cords rebelled in full disobedience, sometimes withdrawing into total silence, other times, dissociating words from sound, and sound from control.

Unsettled by the discord between thoughts, mouth and ears, I wanted to record the experience, before it vanished as abruptly as it appeared. I wanted to be able to come back to it after my voice clears out and dissipates the noise, that scraping noise, which urgently interrupts the normality of words. So I used my phone to record some random thoughts, alongside breathing techniques which I practiced to decongest my sinuses and try to regain, or perhaps lose, my familiar voice.

Hovering around body silencing, fragmentation and mourning deprivation, Down By the Pit of the Throat is an intimate sonic testimonial that reflects on the obsoleteness of verbal language in the face of perpetual tragedies.


Recorded and composed by Yalda Younes 
Mixed by Khyam Allami
 Commissioned  by Redeem, a platform supported by Berlin Senate

Down by the pit of the throat

DOWN BY THE PIT OF THE THROAT عند حفرة الحلق

The Remaining Voice” Tribute for Juliano Mer khamis” in collaboration with Abu Recordings.

*****

This album comes out after eleven years of the assassination of the Palestinian thinker, actor and director, Juliano Mer khamis. Until now there has been no farther investigation of his killing. Juliano was assassinated in 4 of April at 3pm in 2011 just outside the freedom theatre he founded in Jenin refugee camp. 

Album now available in Majazz Project bandcamp.

Tracks and Credit: 
 

Anarcifada / Spartak and Abir Mer khamis and the band. 

Created by : Majazz Project and Abu Recordings.

Mastered by : Abu Recordings. 

Picture of Juliano by Yoni S.HAmenachem. 

Album cover by Abu Recordings.

Mer khamis brothers - anarcifada

By YasMah (aka Hafi 'n Sandala)
Collaboration between Mahmoud Hafi and Yasmine Omari. 

Watani Farahi Alami (my homeland, my joy, my pain)

This was our 6th homework in the (UN)BUILDING Sessions with Nicolás Jaar at Dar Jacir in Bethlehem. The 1.5 month workshop is for beginners  to learn sound production on Ableton Live.

Watani Farahi Alami - (un)building listenings w/ Nicolas Jaar

This sound piece focuses on Palestinian joy. Our pain is what is most often documented and discussed. I wanted to explore our joy and what it means in the bigger picture. Thank you to the 12 participants that allowed me to record them doing something that gives them joy. While recording the sounds I was also able to share joy with the participants. Also thank you to those that recorded their sound and sent it to me. This is meditative piece, so get comfortable and allow your mind to wander.

All of the sounds are recorded from Palestinians living in Palestine (West Bank and 48) and doing something that gives them joy.

"If your existence feels like resistance, then your joy is revolutionary."
-Kiki Salem

There are two lines from the poem "When the Child was a Child"  by Peter Handke and translated to Arabic by Shada Safadi and Rana Anani for an exhibit featuring Safadi currently at Zawyeh Gallery in Ramallah. 

This was my final sound piece for (UN)BUILDING Listenings with Nicolás Jaar at Dar Jacir in Bethlehem.  It was a 2 month workshop is for beginners to learn sound production on Ableton Live.

For questions/comments: 
omariyasmine@gmail.com
@afrobot901 (insta)

Watani Farahi Alami - (un)building listenings w/ Nicolas Jaar

yas o

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