Strolling Between Musical Worlds | Kazdoura at XP Air

Duo Kazdoura, composed of Syrian vocalist Leen Hamo and Lebanese multi-instrumentalist John Abou Chacra, who have just won the JUNO Award for Global Music Album of the Year, join Quartertones at XP Air and discuss their award-winning music, which blends Arabic lyrics and maqam with psychedelic rock, jazz, funk, and soul. The conversation covers their beginnings at a Beirut explosion fundraiser, their creative process of fusing their diverse musical backgrounds, the evolution of their unique sound through their singles like "Wain" and "Tijara", how they navigate audience expectations about sounding "Arab", and the supportive environment they've experienced as Arab artists in Canada. They also touch upon the nuances of maintaining the integrity of maqam in fusion music, and their upcoming album and performance in Egypt.

 

This episode was recorded on December 6, 2025

 

Explore XP Air 👉 https://www.instagram.com/xpmusicfutures/

 

0:00 Introduction

1:17 The Kazdoura Duo, Their Music & Backgrounds

3:31 Meeting at a Beirut Explosion Fundraiser

5:53 Laying the Groundwork: Educating on Arabic Music

8:00 Finding the Kazdoura Sound With the First Song: "Wain"

12:21 The Evolution of Their Sound: Comparing "Wain" and "Tijara"

14:25 Artistic Inspirations and Musical Influences

16:04 Resisting Audience Pressure to Sound a Specific Way

17:21 On Recognition and Being an Arab Artist in Canada

19:22 The Duos Creative Disagreements and Navigating Maqam Integrity

23:38 Listening to the Song "Hiba"

25:57 Adapting Set Lists for Different Venues

27:06 Upcoming Album and Connecting With the Middle East

 

Kazdoura—meaning “to stroll” in Levantine Arabic—captures the spirit of movement, discovery, and joyful connection. Founded in Toronto by Syrian vocalist Leen Hamo and Lebanese multi-instrumentalist John Abou Chacra, the project began as a musical experiment and evolved into one of Canada’s most vibrant acts blending Arabic heritage with modern global sounds. Kazdoura’s debut album Ghoyoum, released in 2025, has surpassed one million streams, resonating with audiences across continents. The album’s success led to nominations for Best New Artist at the 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards and Best Album of the Year at the Ontario Folk Music Awards, where they also took home Best Music Video of the Year.

 

Connect with Kazdoura 👉 https://instagram.com/kazdouramusic

 

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna

 

Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

 

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

 

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf

» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh 

FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAh

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