New Music: Nadine Khouri
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By Paul Scraton:
One of the joys of being involved with a project such as Elsewhere has been to discover many different artists, writers, musicians and other creative folk who we have connected to through via the journal, our events or our online activities. In the case of Nadine Khouri it was something of a re-connection, as I met Nadine in 2008 in Beirut where she was recording an interview for a radio show. I was staying with the presenter of that show, and after the recording we went for something to eat together.
Nadine was born in Beirut, although was forced to leave at the age of seven during the conflict in Lebanon. She is now based in London, and at some point over the past couple of years since Elsewhere was launched we got back in touch. I was especially excited to hear, and then receive, Nadine’s new album The Salted Air, which was released in January. It has been playing on heavy rotation ever since, a haunting and atmospheric collection of songs that contain a sense of loss, displacement and yearning for someplace or something else that certainly resonated with me as I was thinking about the theme of transition that is at the heart of the upcoming issue of the journal.
Drowned in Sound describes The Salted Air as “a pocket-sized book of lullabies, and gothic shanties, whose sounds and lyrics evoke a series of wondrous daydreams and sorrowful, mood-filled, late-night tales,” which should be more than enough to get you to go and check the album out. Below are the answers to the Elsewhere five questions, that I fired over to Nadine by email in the last couple of days, and a live performance of 'Broken Star' from the album. For more on Nadine, her music and upcoming live shows, take a look at her website.
Five Questions for... Nadine Khouri
What does home mean to you?
For a person who was displaced from a young age and had to navigate between various cultures, you can end up feeling a bit fragmented, or at least unable to point to a single place. "Home" is probably more of a state of mind for me, of total presence.
Where is your favourite place?
Oh, it’s hard to say! I love my room at my parents' place in Beirut as it’s inspired many a song… And anywhere on the Mediterranean.
What is beyond your front door?
Some withered trees and a Turkish corner shop.
What place would you most like to visit?
I just got back from playing some dates in Portugal and I’ve always felt I'd like to spend some more time in Lisbon. Honestly though… the list is long!
What are you reading right now?
Carlos Drummond de Andrade 'Multitudinous Heart' (Selected Poems)