Breaking conventional boxes is at the core of Palestinian musician, composer, and singer-songwriter Huda Asfour’s artistic identity. This conversation delves into her rich heritage and a multifaceted career that spans from biomedical engineering to intimate live performances with her electro-acoustic oud and a looper pedal. She shares her perspective on transforming classical Arabic music repertoire to reflect raw, contemporary experiences while processing the deep emotional impacts of conflict. From discussing the complexities of cultural representation to her latest solo tour project, Naqous, she highlights the ultimate importance of fighting built-in music industry structures through community connection.
00:00 Introduction
01:04 Navigating Identity
08:12 Contrasting Dynamics of a Musical Upbringing
10:25 Pedagogical Pivots
13:10 Interdisciplinary Curiosity & Creative Problem Solving
15:20 Borderless Spaces
22:01 Seeking Social Connection
26:47 The Traps of Iconic Cultural Symbolism
31:12 Injecting Raw Textures into Traditional Frameworks
35:33 Cultural Metaphors & Breaking Preserved Formats
46:19 Minimalistic Gear & Finding Intimate Realities
54:02 Alternative Spaces & Fighting Industry Limits
Huda Asfour is a Palestinian musician, composer, improviser, and singer-songwriter based in New York City. She comes from a musical family and began formal training in music in Tunis at the age of 13. In 1996, she joined the National Conservatory of Music in Gaza. She was mentored by Khaled Jubran at the Edward Said Music Conservatory and by qanoun player Said Rajab in Cairo. In 2004, she co-founded Jehar band with Tamer Abu Ghazaleh, a musical experiment which molded Arabic folk and Levantine classical repertoire for young Palestinians emerging from the siege of the Second Intifada. She is also a biomedical engineer and social entrepreneur. Her active projects include CounterImprov, Ballando il Vento (a collaboration with Italian classical musicians), and the Huda & Kamyar project with Iranian setar player Kamyar Arsani. She has performed at the Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center, and has been profiled in Al-Ahram Online and DCist.
Connect with Huda Asfour 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hudasmusic/
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