24 July, 2023
Saied Silbak is a Palestinian composer, singer and Oud player born in Shafaa`mr, a city located in the lower Galilee of occupied Palestine.
His music has been performed around the world at festivals and concert series in Palestine, the UK, Belgium, France, Morocco, Argentina and beyond. His music is known to bring together new musical colours by fusing elements from different musical styles combined with rhythms from distinct regions of the world, providing the listener with an authentic world-crossing experience.
Ahead of his Campfire Club shows with us this weekend, we had six questions for him…
What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming performances?
I’m very excited and very much looking forward to being outside around a fire and playing in a space that is part of big busy cities, such as London and Sheffield, but at the same time being somewhat detached and able to be in nature playing music in a green little bubble!
What do you feel has been your biggest influence in your most recent songs?
My music and songs are generally affected by whatever is going on in the world; nature, politics, life lessons, harmony and much more. I have recently been very occupied with nature and climate change, its affects on us and the urgency to act before it’s too late or becomes too difficult to fix. ‘Zend‘ one of the songs I’ll be performing focuses on the speed of life, the never ending trend of trends(!) And climate change.
How do you feel that Palestinian culture and history has influenced your music?
Palestine is my mother culture. I was born and raised there and the Palestinian culture is the solid ground beneath me in all different aspects; personally, musically, artistically and politically. I am lucky to have the chance to be living in London, which also gives me a very distinct view on Palestine specifically and life in general.
The first music I was exposed to was Palestinian. The first artists I came in contact with as a child were Palestinian. The area and the small nuances in Palestinian accents and traditions. Nature in Palestine also has a huge effect on my music because that’s where I used to spend most of my time while living there.
You’ve been involved in educational and community based work, what are some of the most fulfilling aspects of this side of your work?
Bringing diversity to the scene. Opening people’s (from all ages) eyes and ears to new sounds and information. Teaching people about Palestine and learning from each and every single one of the participants. Sharing the Palestinian folklore with audiences as well as my own work is an absolute pleasure that I enjoy tremendously.
What would you hope The Nest Collective community takes away from your music in these upcoming performances?
I love collaborating with the Nest collective. I think it’s is a very important project and the community the nest has built over the years is a very very special one. I hope people get more and more familiar with the kind of work the Nest offers and I hope they take calmness, happiness, peace, energy and depth from my performances.
What is up next for you?
I am currently in the middle of releasing a new album, ‘The Small Things’. Full release is planned for August 11th. So far 4 tracks have been released. In addition to that i am currently diving deep into composing a new piece for Oud and orchestra that will be performed in London in October.
