Adnan Joubran on Le Trio, Mahmoud Darwish, and hearing Palestine
The music of Adnan Joubran is more than a family affair.
A member of Le Trio Joubran – the Palestinian oud ensemble formed with his brothers Samir and Wissam – the Nazareth-born musician grew up in a house filled with sound: a father who was a master oud maker and a mother who was a singer.
Carry…
Lina Makoul on Palestine, contentment, and Arabic lyricism
How do you write a song about contentment in Arabic pop? Not joy, not heartbreak, not resistance, but stillness. Palestinian singer Lina Makoul has spent years exploring that question
She is part of a growing wave of artists who are reshaping what emotional honesty sounds like in Arabic music, fro…
Anthony Khoury on Adonis, Lebanese indie, and music for fun
They're known as the Lebanese Coldplay.
Their shows are electrifying, their songs punchy and heartfelt. They've tackled themes from loneliness in the Covid-19 pandemic to heritage and a deep love of land.
On this episode of Tarab, host Saeed Saeed speaks to Anthony Khoury of Adonis, the indie-po…
Tania Saleh on language, silence and packing her bags
You can only take so much in a suitcase. When Tania Saleh left Beirut in 2022, she packed lightly and started over. Now living in Paris, the Lebanese singer and visual artist has translated that rupture into a new album called Fragile.
It is sparse, introspective and stripped of the social critiqu…
Malek Jandali's vision for Arabic symphonic music and the sound of legacy
A classically trained pianist with performances spanning Vienna, Chicago and London, Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali has dedicated his career to preserving and elevating Arabic symphonic music on the global stage.
In this episode of Tarab, host Saeed Saeed sits down with Jandali, whose work…
How Al Ain shaped Ghalia Chaker's music and her debut album
Born in Damascus and raised in the oasis city of Al Ain in the UAE, Ghaliaa Chaker grew up between quiet streets and a house full of instruments. She taught herself production, wrote in English first, then pivoted towards Arabic lyricism, as audiences asked to hear their stories in their own langua…
Season finale: Taymoor Marmarchi on breaking silos, building a Grammy moment for the Middle East
As we wrap up the first season of Tarab, we look at where the Middle East’s music industry may be heading next.
A Grammy Awards for the Middle East. That’s the vision Taymoor Marmarchi is bringing to life.
As the first executive director of the Mena Recording Academy, Marmarchi is laying the grou…
Tarab named one of Apple Podcasts’ Best of 2025 in the Middle East
We’re thrilled to share that Tarab was named one of the Best of 2025 by Apple Podcasts in the Middle East.
Hosted by Saeed Saeed from The National News in Abu Dhabi, Tarab dives into the sounds and stories redefining Arab music.
In Season 1, artists from across the region, from classical composer…
Episode 109: Who was the target audience for Bad Bunny’s half-time show?
This week on Culture Bites, Farah Andrews is joined by guest host Saeed Saeed, The National’s music and culture journalist.
After much acclaim and debate over Bad Bunny’s half-time Super Bowl show, the hosts reflect on its massive worldwide appeal. They discuss the powerful cultural messages layer…
Episode 110: What makes Ramadan TV culture so special in the Arab world?
In this episode of Culture Bites, The National’s music and culture journalist Saeed Saeed is back, this time joining Enas Refaei to discuss Ramadan TV.
Every year during the holy month, households across the Arab world tune in to watch the most popular comedies, dramas and talk shows of the season…
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