SANAM (Beirut)

"Beirut group Sanam’s debut record blasts to life with its mix of low-tuned guitar jams, industrial drums, and earthy vocals – an immersive collection of dark and spacious textures” THE GUARDIAN

“A gritty blend of noise rock, ambient textures and Arabic forms that cast the traditional material in a visceral new context" THE WIRE

“A bit post punk and experimental and very, very interesting” GILLES PETERSON BBC 6MUSIC

SANAM's music is a ritual where improvised rock, free jazz and noise underscore an exorcism of traditional Egyptian song and Arabic poetry. Sandy Chamoun (vocals), Antonio Hajj (bass), Farah Kaddour (buzuk), Anthony Sahyoun (guitar, synth), Pascal Semerdjian (drums) and Marwan Tohme (guitars) bring a myriad of influences gleaned from years performing either solo or as members of influential acts in Beirut’s tight-knit independent music scene (such as Al Rahel al Kabir, Postcards, Kinematik and Ovid). SANAM formed following an invitation to perform with Hans Joachim Irmler from the legendary German experimental group Faust, at Beirut's Irtijal music festival in 2022. Their debut album Aykathani Malakon صنم أيقظني ملاكٌ was mixed by Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem in My Heart) and mastered by Heba Kadry