From Oud to Open Horizons — ziyad sahhab
Ziyad Sahhab is a Lebanese music composer, oud player, singer, and writer born in Beirut on March 31, 1982. Coming from a family of musicians, he was surrounded by Arabic music from an early age. He began playing the oud at just seven years old and has since developed a distinctive musical identity that combines traditional Arabic music with jazz, Bossa Nova, Salsa, electronic music, and other contemporary influences.
Albums & Musical Projects
Ziyad released his first album, Ouyoun El Ba'ar, in 2004, featuring texts by renowned Egyptian poet Salah Jahine. In 2007, he followed it with Keep on Singing, which featured poetry by Ahmad Fouad Nijm. In 2015, he explored Sufi music through Araftou El Hawa, a project based on ancient Sufi texts and combined with electronic music. His 2016 album Ya Layali featured singer Roula Azar performing his compositions alongside re-arrangements of classic songs and new material. In January 2021, he released Ziyad Sahhab Live in Al Madina Theater featuring Lamia Ghandour on digital platforms.
Experimentation is at the heart of Ziyad's musical identity. While his work is deeply rooted in traditional Arabic music, he incorporates influences from jazz, Bossa Nova, Salsa, electronic music, and other contemporary styles. His ability to combine Arabic melodies and texts with different rhythms and musical traditions has allowed him to create a sound that is both familiar and unconventional.
Music is only one part of Ziyad Sahhab's creative career. He has also built a long-standing career in television as a host, co-host, and writer. He is the main writer of Hishow, hosted by Hisham Haddad and broadcast through the SBI online platform, allowing him to bring his creativity and storytelling into television as well. Ziyad continues to explore new musical directions and collaborations. He is currently working on two new albums with Nadine Hassan and Rola Azar, while continuing to develop projects that reflect his interest in experimentation, collaboration, and bringing Arabic music into new musical spaces.
Recent Releases
