reem anbar // gazelleband

Raised in Gaza, occupied Palestine, Reem rose to prominence as a young musician in the early 2000s, and was quickly heralded as the city's first female oud player. With an affinity for tarab - the ecstatic traditions of Arab regional music - and the Palestinian heritage of song, Reem absorbed the lessons of older generations of oud players and forged her own path as a self-taught player.

By the time she left Palestine in 2017, Reem was appearing regularly on Palestinian and Arabic TV, at concerts, and working as a music therapist and teacher in Gaza's refugee camps. She has since gone on to become an international performer, appearing regularly on stages at festivals, concert halls, universities and community events.

Reem performs with Gazelleband, as a solo artist and as a guest with other leading musicians. Since 2023, she has performed in eight countries on three continents, and recently brought her music and stories to the refugee camps of Lebanon. She lives in Manchester, Britain, and presents masterclass sessions to students and Arab music enthusiasts, alongside her touring and recording work.

Following journeys through Britain's alternative, folk and jazz scenes, Louis has since dedicated his performance skills to the  buzuq, a long-necked string instrument prominent in countries surrounding Palestine. He is particularly influenced by Syrian maestro Muhammad Abdel Karim and by the experiences of over 20 years researching Palestinian music.

In 2023, Louis' first book was published on AUC Press. Palestinian Music in Exile: Voices of Resistance presents the social history of Palestinian displacement through musical stories, with launches taking place internationally. Louis also directed the award-winning film Kofia: A Revolution Through Music (2020), and is widely published as a writer on Palestine, culture and politics. 

Louis joined Reem Anbar for the Gazelleband world tour in 2023-24, touring eight countries and culminating in a period of research, performance and networking in Egypt. Alongside his performance work, Louis continues to research Palestinian and Arab music, apearing at conferences and guest lectures on music and political culture.