"Arb‘een (40)" is a solo experiment in songwriting, challenging narrative structures and proposing alternative readings of time and continuity. It is rendered by use of oud and guitar, and vocals inspired by the circularity of the project’s recurrent themes. It borrows elements from the Arabic music tradition, and blends them with electronic treatments, sonic textures and loops.

Written, arranged and performed by Youmna Saba

Recorded and mixed by Fadi Tabbal at Tunefork Recording Studios, Lebanon 

Mastered by Lopazz at Mixmastering, Germany

Produced by Youmna Saba and Fadi Tabbal (Tunefork)

Album cover illustration and design by Joseph Kai

all rights reserved

Arb'een (40)

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Youmna Saba is a musician and musicologist who started her musical career in 2006 and has released four albums to this day (Arb’een (40), 2017, Njoum, 2014, Hal Bint Aabalha Tghanni, 2011, Min Aafsh el Beit, 2008). 

She is currently working on a research project that investigates the relationship between the art of the qasida (a musical form that is based on the vocal improvisation of classical Arabic poetry texts) and electronic and electro-acoustic treatments. 

Youmna has collaborated with many musicians of different musical backgrounds: Mike Cooper (GB), Jean Marc Montera (FR), Kyungso Park (SK), Piotr Kurek (PL), among others. She has taken part in international programs and residencies: Hwaeom Spiritual Music Residency (South Korea, September 2017), Sound Development City (Spain, Morocco, 2016), Gyeonggi Creation Center (South Korea, 2013), OneBeat (USA, 2012) and at La Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris as of January 2020. 

Youmna holds a master’s degree in Musicology, focusing mainly on the parallels between classical Arabic music and Arabic visual art.