By Mabel Pais

FARAH SIRAJ (Jordan’s Norah Jones) & AR RAHMAN (genius composer of India) in 2013 performed Zariya live on MTV rendering it the #1 hit in the music charts in India and #3 in Southwest Asia.

The World Music Institute presents FARAH SIRAJ (Jordanian) and EMEL MATHLOUTHI (Tunisian) as part of the ‘Women’s Voices’ series.

What better time to experience and celebrate their music for Women’s History Month!

Virtuoso FARAH SIRAJ, considered “the Norah Jones of the Middle East” by New York Time Out, Jordan’s Musical Ambassadress and the World Music Institute’s (WMI) Honorary Board Member, performs at Joe’s Pub, Public Theater at 425 Lafayette St, Manhattan, New York on Saturday April 13 at 8 PM. Doors open at 7 PM.

Siraj balances a career that spans the United States, Europe and Southwest Asia. Farah has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious platforms, including the United Nations, Nobel Prize Hall, World Economic Forum, The John F. Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, MTV and Coke Studio. In addition, Farah represents Jordan annually on the United Nations World Peace Day.

To this date, Farah has toured Southwest Asia, Europe, India, South America and the United States, spreading the message of peace through her music. In 2011 Farah internationally released her album entitled NOMAD, fusing her influences of arabic music, flamenco, jazz, bossa and pop, including more than 30 internationally acclaimed musicians from around the world. Farah was chosen as one of New York’s “Summer Stars of Jazz.” In June 2014, Farah released her latest album, Dunya, meaning “world” in Arabic and Hindi.

Farah currently leads an ethnically diverse quintet of Arabian Flamenco Jazz, with world-class musicians from Southwest Asia, Europe, the United States and South America. During her tour of India, Farah shared the stage with India’s most renowned composer, A.R. Rahman, performing Zariya live on MTV. The song hit #1 in the music charts in India and #3 in Southwest Asia.

As a humanitarian, Farah focuses on raising awareness about the consequences of war and violence, and advocates for women’s rights, refugee rights and animal rights. In recognition of her humanitarian efforts, Farah was invited to perform at the United Nations Humanitarian Awards, and her music was played before the United Nations Security Council before passing a legislation regarding the genocide in Darfur. Farah approaches music as a medium for peace and a way to amplify the voices of people around the world who need to be heard. Learn more about Farah Siraj at farahsiraj.com

TICKETS

For Tickets, access publictheater.org/productions/joes-pub/2024/f/farah-siraj. Discounts for advance purchase & benefits for members apply.

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ARAB SPRING ANTHEM VOICE EMEL GRACES NEW YORK

By Mabel Pais

Honoring Women’s History Month, and part of the Women’s Voices series, the World Music Institute presents EMEL MATHLOUTHI, a Tunisian-American singer-songwriter, composer, performer, and producer whose music has crossed time, countries, and continents. She performs on Tuesday April 16, 2024 at Public located at 233 Butler Street, Brooklyn at 8 PM. Doors open at 7 PM.

Emel rose to fame in 2012 with her protest song ‘Kelmti Horra’ (My Word Is Free), the title track from her album Kelmti Horra, and became the voice of the Arab Spring. In 2016, she performed ‘Kelmti Horra’ at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, marking a pivotal moment in her journey with this powerful song. Emel continues her exploration into developing a sound that is unique to her and features electronic music loaded with North African references, complex rhythms, and light-dark atmospheres. To read more of Emel & her lyrics, visit emelmathlouthi.com

The WOMEN’S VOICES series celebrates the role that female artists play in the preservation and promotion of their respective cultures and traditions.

Below are the lyrics of one of her songs:

EVERYWHERE WE LOOKED WAS BURNING

Rescuer

The first rise of the light

Is always floating

When they all came to the end

Of their telling

But it tells no one

How it all passed

Slowly..er slowly..er

rescuer of the island of my senses

Have you ever sank in a state

Of not wanting the answer

When the echo left your body

With no revelation

No one, it tells no one

How it all passed

Slowly..er slowly..er

Rescuer of my senses, of my senses

I feel senseless, I feel senseless 

TICKETS

For tickets, access dice.fm/partner/dice/event/pw65l-emel-pres-by-world-music-institute-16th-apr-public-records-new-york-tickets

The performance venue has Standing Room with very limited seating. Discounts apply to advance purchase of tickets.

The World Music Institute (WMI)

Founded in 1985, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world with the goal of inspiring wonder for the world’s rich cultural traditions, promoting awareness and appreciation and encouraging cross-cultural dialog and exchange.

For all queries, contact World Music Institute at

info@worldmusicinstitute.org / (212) 545-7536

Farah Siraj and Emel Mathlouthi are among the female artists presented by the World Music Institute promoting the WOMEN’S VOICES series celebrating the role that female artists play in the preservation and promotion of their respective cultures and traditions. Learn more about WMI at worldmusicinstitute.org

Follow WMI online:

Facebook: @worldmusicinstituteNYC

Twitter: @WMInyc

Instagram: @worldmusicinstitute

Youtube: bit.ly/WorldMusicInstitute-YouTube

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)