SHIRAN
In the summer of 2020, amidst a global pandemic, Tel Aviv-based singer SHIRAN unveiled "Glsah Sanaanea", the highly anticipated follow-up to her 2018-released self-entitled debut album on Batov Records. "Reinterpreting traditional Yemeni songs for a contemporary audience" in Arabic and Hebrew, both albums point to her own Yemenite heritage, "inspired by the many stories and experiences of her cherished and much-loved Grandmother who left Yemen in 1949 for Israel as part of her 'Aliyah' in search of the Jewish homeland." Now, Shiran has placed her songs into the hands of a "global cast of groundbreaking electronic artists," opening up a world of new possibilities and perspectives to Middle Eastern effect.
Released last Friday, SHIRAN's "Remixed" features six stunning, genre-melting reworks by some of the most sought-after names on the global circuit. Take versatile Holland-based producer, musician and remixer Solo Moderna, for instance, who get's things rolling with "a cosmic melange of Gnawa bass fusion," paving the way for a hip-swinging, dubbed out take on the oud-led "Zehere" by The Spy From Cairo, alias Italy's Moreno Visini (of Buddha Bar fame). Next up it's none other than UK-born DJ and producer El Búho, known for his digital cumbia wizardry and taking a more soaring, stripped-down approach to SHIRAN's own vocal magic, before Casablanca's global bass frontrunner Guedra Guedra ups the tempo with his North African blend of footwork finesse. Keeping the dancefloor on lock, Beirut-born and Paris-based producer Hadi Zeidan enters the fray with an absolute stomper, equipped with glistening synths and a menacing bassline, setting the stage for Yafo-based DJ and producer Black Lulu's resounding finish.
With so much quality combined on one release it's hard to pick a favourite, so we'll leave that choice up to you. Head over to Bandcamp to stream/buy the full release. Big up to Batov Records for yet another top-tier drop.
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