Yemen

The band was formed in 2010 by Yemeni-born Israeli multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Ravid Kahalani, who lives between Tel Aviv and Helsinki. At the crossroads of blues, funk and rock, the band's music is tinged with the various influences of the Middle East.

Yemen Blues presenting the new album INSANIYA - HUMANITY produced by the legendary producer Bill Laswell. The visionary collaboration between Laswell and Yemen Blues focusing on hard groove, rich vocals, clarity and heavy sound, featuring one of the greatest voices of the Sahara Mariem Hassan, as well as the Yemenite star Tziyon Golan and One of the greatest rappers in France history Oxmo Puccino.

As coronavirus spread across the world, nowhere seemed more vulnerable than Yemen. Now in its sixth year of war, the country is facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. BBC Arabic’s Nawal al Maghafi is the first reporter to enter Yemen since the outbreak of Covid-19. In this film, she investigates how both sides of this divided nation have failed to protect their citizens from the pandemic.

Conceived from vocalist Ravid Kahalani’s vision, Yemen Blues’ original music mixes of Yemen and West Africa influences with contemporary grooves from funk to mambo and the deep soul of old chants. Conjuring up a rich and diverse aural palette with the use of percussion, oud, horns, and strings, Yemen Blues coexists in both the past and present, at once timeless and modern. The collective is a true collaboration of top master musicians, its core including Ravid Kahalani, Itamar Doari, Rony Iwryn, Shanir Blumenkranz and Itamar Borochov.