Praed[LB/CH]

The music of Swiss-Lebanese duo Praed reflects the complexities and tensions of contemporary Egyptian society by combining Arabic popular and trance musics with free jazz and electronics.

Raed Yassin and Paed Conca founded Praed in 2006. Yassin provides vocals and works primarily with keyboards and a laptop, while Conca can be found on clarinet, electric bass, and synthesizers. The pair draw heavily from two primary tropes of Egyptian music: the popular Arabic style known as Shaabi, and Mouled, the music played in religious trance ceremonies. Mouled's hypnotic effect dovetails with other styles of what Yassin and Conca refer to as "sonic delirium," such as free jazz, space jazz, and psychedelic rock.

Praed debuted at the Al Maslakh festival in Switzerland and appeared shortly after at Beirut's Irtijal, one of the most prominent assemblies for experimental music in the Arab world. Since then, the band has performed throughout Japan, Europe, and Canada and connected with a global network of experimental and avant-garde musicians. Yassin and Conca also perform as Praed Plus together with German trumpeter Axel Dörner, trombone player Johannes Bauer, experimental composer and sound artist Hans Koch, and saxophonist Stephane Rives.

 


Praed are supported by the Swiss arts council Pro Helvetia

Polynodes I

Werkstatt der Kulturen, Sat 30.01.2016, 22:00

Praed, Maurice Louca, Batuk, Pharoah Chromium, Dis Fig, NAAFI feat. Paul Marmota & Zutzut, Renaissance Man, Sublime Frequencies, Ziad Nawfal

Current Voices from the Middle East

Kunstquartier Studio 1, Mon 01.02.2016, 16:00

Panel with Alan Bishop, Maurice Louca, Raed Yassin, Deena Abdelwahed, Sam Shalabi, Host: Angie Balata