The charismatic, famous Arab singer, Nadin Al Khalidi has hit the heart of the audience with her nostalgic songs, at the Penang World Music Festival 2015 which was held last weekend from 11th April to 12th April at Penang heritage centre the Esplanade, organized by the Penang state Tourism.
“I sing for the people who got stuck in war, lost their homes and dears. My aim is to tell their story through music and voice up their sorrow to the world as there are people over there whose voices cannot reach the media that is being selective. All this inspired me - I still hear their sound trucks in my heart" Nadin said in an Interview with Utusan Online Tv .
"War is a horrible thing ; you lose your home, your people, your identity and history,” she added.
At the Penang World Music Festival she performed her very famous melodious, yet heart touching famous Arabic songs, from her Album `ya Sidi` that was released in 2012, 'Baghdad Choby', 'ya Rayas (president)', ' la danse du chameau (dace of camel) and other songs.
“All these songs and lyrics are for peace. Some songs are against those presidents who ruled wars without mercy,” she said.
Her Album `ya Sidi that means `sir`, consists of 10 songs in Arabic. It is a mixture of sufism with pop and folk music. Most of her songs, she said, are “about disparate love, longing for home and loved ones that we were forced to leave by war”
She and her group Tarabband are now touring the world. They are going to perform in Egypt in June, from there to Palestine, then to Europe and India.
“Malaysia is our first Asian country to perform in. Penang is amazing, with amazing people, and the climate make my hear free curly,” she said delightfully!
Nadin is currently living in Sweden as a war refugee. She was born and raised in Baghdad. In 2001, she fled Iraqi war to Sweden, carrying with her only her voice and saz ( oud). In Sweden she created her Tarabband which is a traditional Arabic music band that found ecstasy through music - a journey that narrates war survivals, exiles, life and rebirth.
Tarabband hosts some of Sweden’s most skilled folk and world musicians such as Cabriel Hermansson( from Sweden, plays oud, guitar and vocals), Dan Svensson (plays flute and percussion), Filip Runesson (violinist), Roman Contama ( from France, Plays pass),and Stephan Jarl ( Percussion), and she Nadin an extraordinary vocals , and a damn well Saz, Banjo, Guitar player.
The Penang World Music Festival was for two wonderful nights treat, not only exposing Malaysians to the international folk music, but also make them enjoy stellar performances by 12 international musicians; DizuPlaatjies from South Africa, Prem Joshua from India, Razon De Son from Spain, Casuarina from Brazil, Annuluk from Germany, Ajinai from Mongolia, Gus Teja World Music from Bali, Vedankolod from Russia, Trad Attack from Estonia, Raggy Project and Nading Rhapsody from Malaysia, Besides the Tarabband from Sweden.
