Quartertones | Music from the Arab World
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.
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 49 minutes
- Episodes
- 76
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
DJing in the Middle of Nowhere | Nooriyah Qais
DJ Nooriyah’s iconic Boiler room set with her Baba on the oud, growing up between Saudi, Japan and London, and her beloved CDJ 2000s Pioneer decks. We sat down with Nooriyah Qais to talk about everyt…
Co-founding DAM | Suhel Nafar
The early days of Palestinian hip-hop group DAM, growing up in Lydda, and working with artists across the region and from the diaspora: Suhel Nafar joins us on QuarterTones to discuss his colorful an…
Jordanian Grunge | Akher Zapheer
Akher Zapheer’s front-man and longest standing member, Basem Sayej, talks to us about Amman as his muse and a misunderstood city, the Arab rock scene, and his favorite places to perform round the wor…
Hip Hop, the Lahme Song & Making Beats From Old Syrian Vinyls | Thanks Joey
In this episode of Quartertones, Thanks Joey takes us on a journey through hip hop, Brooklyn music, and his Syrian grandfather’s old records. We talk about working with Omar Offendum and Narcy, his m…
JOHN BAKHOS | Progressive Metal | Quartertones
John Bakhos talks about forming his metal band, Anuryzm, and the progression of its music throughout the years. In this Quartertones episode, John plays three songs: Cosmos, Neo Luddite, and Ruby Dem…
Blu Fiefer | Independent Hip Hop from Lebanon to the World
Blu Fiefer plays three of her songs: Sharaf, Nazele Big Champagne, and Sint El Ew. She talks about her contribution to hip-hop in Lebanon and how she uses storytelling in her music.
Blu Fiefer is a Le…
Tunisian Classics Reimagined Through Jazz | Omar El Ouaer
Omar El Ouaer plays three of his songs: Alif Ya Soltani, Aziza, and Mana3ref Win. He tells us about Tunisian music and how he discovered Jazz.
Omar el Ouaer, a Tunisian jazz musician. He started his m…
Zeid Hamdan | Indie Music in Lebanon & Beyond
Zeid Hamdan introduces us to the Indie music scene in the Arab region. We listened together to songs he produced: Herzan by Soapkills and Zamel by Bedouin Burger, which he forms with Lynn Adib.
Zeid H…
From Morocco to the World: the Art of Making Borderless Music | Malika Zarra
Malika Zarra takes us on a musical journey to discover Moroccan music. She tells about her newest album "RWA (The Essence)" and about who inspires her the most, from Moroccan Hajja Hamdaouia to Leban…
Expanding the Contemporary Nubian Songbook | Nesma Herky
On this episode of Quartertones we're talking with Nubian-rooted Egyptian singer Nesma Herky who takes us to the origins of her interest in singing. We then listen to her work starting with Amary, co…
The Music of Jewish Women in North Africa | Vanessa Paloma Elbaz
Vanessa Paloma Elbaz talked about her research in Jewish music. We listened to Chant Juif pour la Naissance by Mme. Azeroual, Habibi Lawel by Habiba Messika, and La Llorona by Chavela Vargas.
Vanessa …
Zeid Hamdan & Lynn Adib at Habibi Festival 2022 | Quartertones Live at Joe's Pub
In this Quartertones event in collaboration with Habibi Festival held at Joe's Pub, we talked to Bedouin Burger duo artists Lynn Adib and Zeid Hamdan.
ABOUT HABIBI FESTIVAL
Created with the goal of gi…
Hatim Belyamani & Mehdi WMD at Habibi Festival 2022 | Quartertones Live at Joe's Pub
In this Quartertones event in collaboration with Habibi Festival held at Joe's Pub, we talked to classical pianist Hatim Belyamani and rapper Mehdi WMD.
ABOUT HABIBI FESTIVAL
Created with the goal of …
Firas Zreik at Habibi Festival 2022 | Quartertones Live at Joe's Pub
In this Quartertones event in collaboration with Habibi Festival held at Joe's Pub, we talked to Kanun player and composer Firas Zreik.
ABOUT HABIBI FESTIVAL
Created with the goal of giving a snapshot…
Zahra AlZubaidi at Habibi Festival 2022 | Quartertones Live at Joe's Pub
In this Quartertones event in collaboration with Habibi Festival held at Joe's Pub, we talked to maqamat and awtaar vocalist Zahra Alzubaidi.
ABOUT HABIBI FESTIVAL
Created with the goal of giving a sn…
Noura Mint Seymali & Matthew Tinari at Habibi Festival 2022 | Quartertones Live at Joe's Pub
In this Quartertones event in collaboration with Habibi Festival held at Joe's Pub, we talked to Mauritanian griot and singer Noura Mint Seymali and Mauritania/Senegal-based producer and musician Mat…
Nadine El Roubi | Sudanese Rap
Nadine performed three of her songs and spoke about her musical career.
Nadine El Roubi is a Sudanese artist who grew up in Virginia, she hopes to expand the understanding of what it means, and looks …
The Clarinet in Arabic Music | Kinan Azmeh
Kinan performed three musical pieces and spoke about his work as a composer.
Originally from Damascus, Syria Kinan Azmeh is a soloist, composer, and improvisor. He has performed in places such as the …
Oud With Two-time Grammy-nominated Iraqi Virtuoso | Rahim AlHaj
Rahim performed 3 pieces from his work and spoke about his work as a composer and musician.
Rahim AlHaj has performed all over the world, on tour with Munir Bashir, his teacher, as well as solo and wi…
Producing Arabic Series & Music | Firas Abou Fakher
Firas performed three songs, spoke about starting Last Floor Productions, and his work in movie/TV composition.
Firas Abou Fakher is a Lebanese composer, producer, and writer. While attending the Amer…