Meet Ghoula—Arabic Music Remixed Via Tunisia
In her latest music column for TMR, Melissa Chemam profiles the genre-defying Tunisian electro artist Ghoula.
Author: Melissa Chemam
A new series in France, Raï Is Not Dead, Celebrates the Genre
Melissa Chemam attends the première of the new French music series on Arte TV at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.
Hardi Kurda: Archiving the Sounds of Northern Iraq
Melissa Chemam profiles Iraqi Kurdish musician-composer Hardi Kurda and his projects Space 21 and Archive Khanah: Sounds from Iraq.
Berlin-Based Palestinian Returns to Arabic in new Amrat Album
Music writer Melissa Chemam interviews Rasha Nahas on her new Arabic-language album, "Amrat."
Gultrah Sound System: Tunisia’s Sound of Freedom
Melissa Chemam explores the Tunisian neo-rap and reggae group from Tunisia that sings for social and political freedom.
Love Has Everything to Do with Maryam Touzani’s The Blue Caftan
Melissa Chemam reviews the new taboo-busting feature film from Moroccan director Maryam Touzani.
Dynamic Acoustic Duo Ÿuma Allies with Tunisia and Derja
In her monthly music column, Melissa Chemam talks to Sabrine Jenhani, half of the indie Tunisian duo Ÿuma.
For Electronica Artist Hadi Zeidan, Dance Clubs are Analogous to Churches
For her 12th TMR music column, Melissa Chemam talks to eclectic electronica DJ/composer Hadi Zeidan.
Vocalist Samira Brahmia Bridges France and Algeria with Love
For her 11th TMR music column, Melissa Chemam interviews the Algerian-French diva Samira Brahmia.
Kader Attia, Berlin Biennale’s Curator
Melissa Chemam profiles contemporary Algerian-French artist Kader Attia as he discusses his role with the Berlin Biennale.
A Palestinian Musician Thrives in France: Yousef Zayed’s Journey
In her 10th music column for TMR, Melissa Chemam profiles Palestinian oud performer and percussionist Yousef Zayed, who lives in France.
Tunisia’s Imed Alibi Crosses Borders in new “Frigya” Electronica Album
Melissa Chemam in her latest music column interviews Tunisian electro-world creator Imed Alibi.
Roxana Vilk’s Personal History of Iranian Music
In this month's music column, Melissa Chemam talks to a British national with an Iranian heart and musical heritage.
Tamino, Soothing Sonic Innovator, Goes on Post-Pandemic Tour
Melissa Chemam profiles the Arab-Belgian singer-songwriter Tamino-Amir, as he prepares to go on tour.
Algerian Art on the 60th Anniversary of Algeria’s Independence
Melissa Chemam reviews two major exhibitions devoted to Algerian artists and the rebel leader Abd el-Kader, at Paris and Marseille museums.
Zineb Sedira Triumphs for France/Algeria at 59th Venice Biennale
Melissa Chemam interviews the London-based Franco-Algerian artist whose pavilion won Special Jury Mention in Venice.
Fairouz is the Voice of Lebanon, Symbol of Hope in a Weary Land
For April's column, music critic Melissa Chemam looks longingly at the legend of Lebanon's diva.
Artist Hayv Kahraman’s “Gut Feelings” Exhibition Reviewed
Melissa Chemam is swept away by an Iraqi American artist's latest exhibit at Mosaic Rooms in London.
Music in the Middle East: Bring Back Peace
Our music columnist Melissa Chemam, disturbed by the war in Ukraine, makes the link between Odesa and Beirut via DJ Sama' Abdulhadi.
Nazareth’s Liwan Features Palestinian Singer Haya Zaatry
This month TMR's music critic Melissa Chemam discusses Palestinian arts and "cultural resistance" at Liwan in Nazareth, where vocalist Haya Zaatry recently performed.
Rachid Taha and the Sway of Chaabi & Raï on Franco-Arab Rock
This month, TMR's music critic, Melissa Chemam, stumbles upon an unexpected exhibit of the history and influence of raï, chaabi and "Beur" politics on the French body politic.
Music in the Middle East: Business can’t Buy Authenticity
180,000 electronic music aficionados attended the SOUNDSTORM festival in Riyadh this month, but as columnist Melissa Chemam writes, "it is impossible not to see these events as a part of the country’s soft power and policy to whitewash its terrible human rights record."
Electronic Music in Riyadh?
Music journalist Melissa Chemam turns in the first column as part of a new monthly series in which she'll explore icons of Arab music and how they influence music production around the world.
IAM, Marseille’s Original Hip Hop Collective
Melissa Chemam on the origins and reverberations of Marseille's seminal rap group IAM.
Faïza Guène’s Fight for French Respectability
Melissa Chemam considers the sixth novel by France's former teen sensation Faïza Guène and whether she is now part of the literary canon.
Revolution Viewed from the Crow’s Nest of History
Columnist Melissa Chemam argues we ought to take the long view on the Arab uprisings and remember the many French revolutions by way of precedence.
Why is Arabic Provoking such Controversy in France?
Melissa Chemam takes us inside the French controversy over Arabic and radical Islam.
A Conversation with Arundhati Roy & Colson Whitehead
The novelists and essayists discuss these difficult times, the rise of neo-fascism in India and the U.S., and "What Lies Ahead."
Wajdi Mouawad, Just the Playwright for Our Dystopian World
Wajdi Mouawad has shaken Western theatre out of its rigid rules, bringing a dream-infused approach, odes to childhood's energy and a sense of adventure, rooted in his Lebanese culture and fascination for great Greek tragedies.
Arts in the Pandemic Age
Covid-19 shows no sign of abating, forcing cities and some countries into more quarantines and further lockdown; without music, cinema, literature and artistic events, how long can we hold on?
From Lockdown to 4 Indies in a Week — Why Cinema Matters
During four months of lockdown in Bristol, West England, UK, what I had perhaps missed the most were theatres and movie houses. I was able to read and to walk in parks almost every day. But I missed new motion pictures and the experience of watching stories unfurl together in…