New article: Musical Storytelling – Reem Kelani interviewed

From Electronic Intifada, 1st October 2010:

Watching Reem Kelani perform in front of an ecstatic crowd at Halifax’s “Discover Palestine” festival, one would be forgiven for thinking that this is an artist with her career path laid out for her. She delivers stunning vocal performances, ranging from Palestinian lullabies and settings of Mahmoud Darwish’s poems to early twentieth century pieces by Egyptian master Sheikh Sayyid Darwish evoking the lives of working-class Nubian Egyptians. Describing herself as a storyteller, her performance incorporates a joyful desire to share knowledge and understanding. Arabic-language lyrics are translated for the mainly English-speaking audience and the long, intricate histories behind some of the lyrics and melodies are unpicked…

Read the full article here.