DISCOGRAPHY

DEBUT CD 2010

LEVANTINE INDULGENCE



All Composition by Gaida. "Ghayeb" Co-composed with Jeruis Basir. " Kaifa Uhibuka" Co-composed with Amir Elsaffar. " Almaya" is a syrian folk song.


To preview a song, click over its title.



For lyrics translations and lyricists credits
click over here:
Lyrics Translations & Credit


MUSICIANS ON THE CD

Adel Hinawi (Backing Vocals, Oud , & Eelectrics Bass)
Amjad Abdullah ( Percussion )
Amir ElSaffar ( Trumpet & Santoor)
Arturo Martinez ( Guitar )
Bridget Robbins ( Nye )
Dende Macedo ( Brazillian Percussion )
Eric McPherson ( Drums )
Francois Moutin ( Bass )
George Dulin ( Piano )
Hector Morales ( Congas )
Jessica Seidel ( Flute & Cello )
Jeo Brown ( Keyboard )
Johnny Farraj ( Riq - Tambourine )
Sarah Silbert ( Backing Vocals )
Teraq Abboushi ( Buzuq )
Zafer Tawil ( Oud, qanoon, & Percussion )
Ze Grey ( Electric Bass )

“Song sequence of alert beauty”
~Timeout New York

“Beyond Perfect”
~Peter Canby, Senior Editor - The New Yorker

"Just beautiful!"
~Suzan Peric, Music Editor - Lord of the Ring

Liner Notes

The Fertile Crescent is known as the birthplace of civilization. Levant, which includes modern-day Syria, was The Crescent’s desert oasis. For millennia Arabs have traveled North to Levant for its natural beauty and abundance food. Levant is the birthplace of Gaida's family and ancestors.

The songs on Levantine Indulgence represents a eclectic mix of musical styles. Gaida explores the flexible qualities of traditional Arabic maqam, or mode, in Arab folk, classical and Tarab (ecstasy) songs. Other styles represented include belly dance, jazz, bossa nova, and pop-style dance music. Levantine Indulgence is a highly personal retrospective representing over a decade of work. In this debut album Gaida exposes her innermost emotions using her powerful yet refined and expressive voice. Each song is at its core about love, longing and caring. In Gaida's own words, “I will always sing with tears close to my eyes, beats pounding my fragile heart, and care wrapping the world”.

Gaida was born in Germany and raised in Damascus, and has also lived in Kuwait, Paris and Detroit. She now lives in New York and is considered one of the city’s leading female vocalists.

Produced by Adel Hinawi (adelhinawi@yahoo.com)
Musical Direction by Amir Elsaffar
Recorded, Mixed by Adel hinawi at Oustaz Recording
Designed by Salah Rajab
Record Label: Palmyra Recordings
All songs by Gaida © Radio Tarab Music (ASCAP)