Wishamalii, Nemat Battah, Kari Ikonen - Al-Bahr (2024)

Wishamalii are a phenomenon! The band consists of three adventurous musicians with very diverse cultural backgrounds. Shortly after its formation, the trio already sounds like a well-rehearsed ensemble that impresses live audiences with its unusual sounds, strong presence, and great charm. A special trademark of the band: pianist Kari Ikonen has invented the “Maqiano Microtuning System,” which enables him to play the Arabic harp Maqamat on the acoustic piano! The name Wishamalii refers to the Nordic way of reinterpreting the Arabic-Andalusian Muwashah chants. On their debut album “Al-Bahr,” Wishamalii combine tradition with creativity through a selection of original melodies, specially written and arranged for the band, along with some Muwashahat. These are one of the most important vocal music forms in traditional Arabic music. The best examples of this are the first and last songs of the album.

The three band members have diverse backgrounds: Palestinian-Jordanian singer, oud virtuoso, and composer Nemat Battah has been active in the world music scene in Finland and Sweden for some time. She has also taught at the Department of Global Music at the renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. The multi-award-winning Finnish composer and pianist Kari Ikonen stands out even in the idiosyncratic Finnish music scene as an original. Ikonen is constantly seeking new inspirations, drawn from various musical cultures. He has toured the world as a solo pianist and with various Finnish and international groups. Ethiopian-born Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa is one of Finland’s most prominent percussionists, bringing his expertise to numerous musical genres.

The title track “Al-Bahr” (The Sea) is an original composition by Kari Ikonen with lyrics by Jordanian musician Ra’ad Al-Zaben. The song addresses how the Mediterranean has become a grave for people seeking refuge from wars. We often forget that the Mediterranean has played an important cultural role for millennia!

“Our theme for this album is peace – and the desperate, constant hope and appeal for it. We want to highlight the difficult feelings and life paths of immigrants who wonder if the world will ever experience peace?” writes the band. In the song “Impressions of Deir Al-Balah,” composed by oud player and singer Nemat Battah with lyrics by Jordanian musician Ra’ad Al-Zaben, Nemat speaks about her mother’s impressions of her hometown in Gaza and her feelings of constant displacement as a result of decades-long war. In “Lullaby,” Nemat has a conversation with her mother. She asks for bedtime stories and reflects on the qualities her mother passed on to her, including the traumas caused by war.

The track “Ya Dirati” is a cover of a political and historical piece. It was originally sung by the legendary Syrian singer Asmahan Al-Attrash in the Mawwal style. It is said that Asmahan used this poem to convey a message from the Allies to the rebels in Syria: they should not resist the Allied forces in exchange for independence. However, after the Allies refused to grant independence to the Syrians at the end of World War II, Asmahan was accused of treason. Asmahan expressed her flowing emotions and her messages to the people who mattered to her through the Mawwal style.

Tracklist:
1-1. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Wallathi Wallaka Qalbi (04:00)
1-2. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Impressions of Deir Al Balah (05:38)
1-3. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Lullaby (04:44)
1-4. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Al Bahr (05:42)
1-5. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Tahmilat Bayat (05:49)
1-6. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Ya Dirati (04:16)
1-7. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - La Paz Eterna (06:16)
1-8. Kari Ikonen, Nemat Battah, Wishamalii - Salla Fina (03:23)