A Hobbyist Halftime Snack: Five Middle Eastern Records Sami Reiss Likes a Lot
Enjoy the tasty treat
During my conversation with Sami Reiss, the big boss mentioned that he’s been diving ever-deeper into the rabbit hole of Middle Eastern music. Since all I do all day every day is catch up on new music that has yet to be released and I am somehow late on hearing, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce some more chaos into the mix and ask him for some recs. Sorry, promos, it’s a bad day to be you. Below, check out five picks from Mr. Reiss and make sure to tell a pal to subscribe. A note: since I can’t read Hebrew nor Arabic the YouTube videos beneath each entry may or not be related to the album in question. Rather, it’s a nice taste of the artist listed. Additionally, follow The Hobbyist on Instagram here.
1. Zehava Ben 'שרה ערבית' sings in Arabic — all Arabic language songs, some standards, some classics. In some senses, this album is the Age of Quarrel (head and shoulders most complete record) of the country. There is an Israeli music ban in much of the Arab world but her songs kind of get an exception and get played there on the radio. Her Arabic intonation is way more emotional than like all but a few of her Hebrew songs IMO. Perfect record.
2. Avner Zaken תפלה כורדית משגעת - This translates to ‘Crazy Prayer in Kurdish.’ He’s another Mizrahi guy, this record is in Kurdish. Some songs are classics I remember hearing as a kid, and the synths and drums on this feel like crazy incompetent dancehall, very minimal and weird and rewarding. Special record.
3. Haim Zrihan - יא ראייח - Ya Rayah (you, the one leaving) - This is a Moroccan (I think) wedding singer. The title is a cover of an old Algerian song that Rachid Taha, an Algerian singer, would cover later, around the time of this record’s release. A few songs on this record are best in genre in my opinion, his voice is incredible. I listen to some tunes 10 times in a row.
4. ياس خضر البوم رحلة عمر كامل - "Journey of a Whole Life" by Yas Khidr - This is only on YouTube, one of countless records by Khidr who was a very massive Iraqi singer (“real Arab” as some Mizrahis say, not Jewish). Sounds like E-40 at the start, really perfect and comforting record start to finish. I think one natural progression if you start with “Mizrahi” music is to eventually listen to non-Mizrahi music, which has deeper roots and is as good and becomes as familiar and perfect.
5. Shaaban Abdel Rahim ما بحبش المشاكل (“I don’t like problems”) - God-tier Shaabi singer from Egypt. To be sure any musicologist will point out how different iraqi music is from Egyptian, or a certain era is from another, and to me there is lots to say too, but mostly these are records that sort of transcend politics, or which offer a new form of politics, or which maybe are just closer to real daily life when it is not upended by governments. Beware anyone who says just sharing music is the path to ”peace” — but I don't know, you see this stuff, the scales fall. The problem isn’t that this is too idealistic, it’s that there aren’t any real political options right now to make a real change.