Songs We Carry

Acclaimed British singer and multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera and Palestinian composer, Oud virtuoso and singer Saied Silbak join creative forces for 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. 

Ana Silvera and Saied Silbak invite audiences on an evocative journey, exploring history, culture and heritage through music. At the heart of this collaboration is the duo’s deep kinship, both as friends and musical minds, showing Palestinian and Jewish unity and solidarity in action. 

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. 

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.

This duo have proved their wide-ranging appeal with appearances including Amare Den Haag, Sibelius Museum (FI), Melahuset (NO), Vortex Jazz Club (UK), Round Chapel, Clapton and the Royal Opera House (UK). They have also played live sessions on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and Late Lunch with Max Reinhardt on Soho Radio.

Their debut album released in Autumn 2024, which culminated in a sold out launch at London’s Kings Place with many sign ups for the wait – list.

Review here from Mark Kidel of The Arts Desk: “Beautiful and deeply moving…their performance summoned such sorcery within seconds of starting, and the thrills kept coming”  – The Arts Desk ☆☆☆☆☆