Wed Apr 22 2026

Release the Ksha

hosted by Fatimah Alyousif

11:30 PM - 1:00 AM

Unruly, messy, untamed.. “Ksha”–an Arabic word every curly-haired girl has heard repeated at her to insult the vibrance of curly hair following the arrival of western beauty standards in the Southwest Asia and North Africa region (SWANA). “Release the Ksha” is about de-westernizing the minds of listeners by sharing a wide-range of revolutionary and innovative SWANA music, from psychedelic rock to soul, offering an insight into the breadth, issues, and beauty of a region marked by creative resistance, moving beyond the stereotypes while drawing on tradition to sprout something new. Join me as we dance and release our “ksha” to up-and-coming bands and small artists pushing artistic boundaries by taking on unconventional and transformative genres, and celebrate the music that influenced this rising tide of creative musical vision in the SWANA region!

زغرتوا Zaghritu - Maya Al Khaldi, Other World عالم تاني (Tawleef) 2022

Cállate - Dua Saleh, Cállate (Vevo) 2026

Sou'al (feat. Antifoniko Melos) - Marc Buronfosse & Lynn Adib, Nearness (Arts Culture Europe) 2022

On Man عن انسان - Sabreen, Smoke of the Volcanoes () 1982

On Wishes عن الامنيات - Sabreen, Smoke of the Volcanoes (Sabreen, under exclusive license to PopArabia) 1982

Toyour - Rasha Nahas & Dina El Wedidi, Amrat (Cooking Vinyl) 2023

U8 - Rasha Nahas, Amrat (Cooking Vinyl) 2023

Lola - Zeid and the Wings & Zeid Hamdan, Asfeh (Lebanese underground) 2011

Miraat Al-Hijarah - Kamilya Jubran, Wameedd (Everestrecords) 2006

10.

Lover, Lover, Lover - Rasha Nahas, Desert (Rmad Records) 2021

11.

Nafas - Maryam Saleh, Syrr (Simsara Records) 2026

12.

Nafad Al-Ahwal - Kamilya Jubran, Wameedd (Everestrecords) 2006

13.

Ryah Jnoob رياح الجنوب - Rasha Nahas & Terez Sliman, Amrat أمرات (Cooking Vinyl) 2023

14.

Solo YC30 - Hadi Zeidan, Taksim Analog (Beirut Electro Parade) 2018

15.

QĀNĀ (feat. Lynn Adib) - Robinson Khoury, MŸA (Komos) 2024

16.

Lugere - aya metwalli, Arabstazy - Under Frustration Vol. 1 (InFiné) 2018

17.

Mabrouk Mabrouk - Hadi Zeidan, Taksim Analog (Beirut Electro Parade) 2018

18.

Karakoz - Mai Mai Mai, Karakoz (Maple Death Records) 2026

19.

Amshi - Kamilya Jubran, Wameedd (Everestrecords) 2006