Middle East Soundscapes is the first in our ongoing artist series in which we showcase the talents of individual musicians.
Abaji is an eclectic multi instrumentalist currently based in France. His dynamic blend of musical cultures make for a global soundscape that defies typical convention.
Abaji produced his first album, Paris-Beyrouth in 1995 in which he sings, plays the guitar, sitar-guitar and mouth harp. Growing up in Beirut he developed a keen interest in Indian music, in particular for the sliding sound texture on a fingerboard. This inspired him to combine his love of Indian music with the contemporary trappings of the acoustic blues. Since that point he has embarked on five additional projects and has performed in more than fifty countries around the world including on NPR and at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
On “Middle East Soundscapes”, Abaji, who owns and performs on over 400 instruments, skillfully incorporates musical elements from Middle Eastern, Indian and other Asian cultures, resulting in a sonic fusion that is truly unique. Featured instruments include the oud, kemenche and Armenian duduk. “Middle East Soundscapes” encompasses a wide variety of underscore choices for high-end productions. Abaji's organic and authentic textures provide a thematic and emotional edge perfect for documentaries, travelogues, dramatic television and film underscore.
