Yazz Ahmed on Persian Gulf Folklore, Jazz Fusion, and Her New Album 'A Paradise In The Hold'

Exploring Arabic Heritage Through Music

• 🎺 Yazz Ahmed, a British trumpet player, discusses her new album "A Paradise In The Hold," which delves into her Arabic heritage and blends it with jazz.
• 🌍 The album is inspired by the traditional folklore and music of the Persian Gulf, specifically Bahrain.

The Music of Pearl Divers and Women's Traditions

• 🌊 Ahmed explains that Fijiri, the music of Bahraini pearl divers, often mentions themes of loneliness, longing for family, and the risks involved in diving.
• 🧜‍♀️ A myth associated with pearl diving is that pearls are the tears of mermaids.
• 🥁 She also highlights the music of women's drumming groups, who play at celebrations and focus on themes of beauty and nature.

Incorporating the Human Voice

• 🎤 For the first time, Ahmed composed for the human voice, inspired by the vocal traditions in Baharini music.
• 🗣️ She aimed for a natural flow, sometimes integrating vocals as part of the musical texture rather than a traditional song style.
• ✍️ Writing lyrics in Arabic presented a challenge, requiring translation and careful attention to fitting words to melody and rhythm.

Embracing Identity Through Music

• 🏡 Ahmed shares her journey of rediscovering her Arabic and Bahraini roots after moving to London at a young age and adapting to UK culture.
• 🎶 She found that music was the best way to express the mixture of her identities and felt a sense of wholeness through this rediscovery.

Future Musical Explorations

• 🎧 Yazz Ahmed is considering remixes of her album with electronic artists and plans to record with her free-improvised band, Electric Dreams.
• 💥 She is also working on new, experimental music inspired by genres like Rage Against the Machine and drum and bass, combined with her Arabic roots.

Other Music Releases

• 🎤 The show also briefly features new music from Damiano David (Måneskin's frontman), Chuck D (Public Enemy), and MØ.
• 🎶 Ahmed expresses her enjoyment of the Eurovision Song Contest, appreciating the cultural performances.