This feisty sextet from France, whose name means “mirage,” serves oriental tradition with a fierce and intense blast of earthy rock and jazz. In fact, their music has been described as a “chimeric adventure” due to this unique fusion of musical genres stemming from their divine singer Climène Zarkan’s Syria. Weaving between inner mysteries and versatility, hair to the wind, the young artist very much embodies the Syrian expression of her time. In songs like “Celui occupe mes pensées” on the album Arwah Hurra (Arabic for “free spirits”), she is able to expose the nature of her intimacies without a trace of embarrassment, much like diva Oum Kalthoum, to whom the singer humbly professes her allegiance.

Anyone who has fallen under the spell of the oud, the electric guitar and a pronounced bass will love Sarāb. Since their formation in 2018, and after just three albums, the group has made a name for itself across Europe and the Mediterranean. Like the breath of resistance and Arabic orality, their songs breathe hope into their solidarity with the suffering of the Syrian people. Never short of inspiration, the musicians have integrated keyboards and piano into their music.

As smooth as satin yet powerful and volcanic, the song “Samt” (I remember) is like an exquisite journey into the unknown. Let yourself be carried away by Sarāb’s magic and step through the open door into the age-old world of melody for an unforgettable experience. And who knows, after their Festival Nuits d’Afrique appearance, maybe Montréal will find a place in their songwriting notebook as they prepare for their next album due to be released in 2025!