Acclaimed singer and multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera and Palestinian composer, Oud virtuoso and singer Saied Silbak join creative forces in their debut EP ‘Songs We Carry’, a new collaboration exploring the common ground between their heritages – the emotive, melancholy of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) music and the rich Maqams and intricate melodies of Arabic song. 

For Ana Silvera, this project is deeply personal, rooted in her family’s history as Jewish refugees of the Spanish Inquisition, who resettled in Aleppo (then part of the Ottoman Empire) in the 18th century. Silvera’s re-working of ancestral song offers a glimpse into the resilience and beauty of her heritage; her talent for rendering these ancient melodies afresh also gestures to her work as a singer-songwriter, a path that has earned her praise from discerning critics including The Guardian, who have lauded her work as “stunning… magical storytelling.

Meanwhile, Saied Silbak’s journey from Shafaa’mr, a city located in the lower Galilee of occupied Palestine, to the cosmopolitan landscape of London infuses his artistry with a profound understanding of diverse musical traditions. With virtuosity honed through a lifetime of exploration, Silbak masterfully melds Arabic, Turkish, and Indian influences with Western styles, crafting a signature sound that transcends borders.

For this EP launch at Kings Place, Silvera and Silbak invite audiences on an evocative journey, exploring history, culture and heritage through music.