A Lebanese woman writes about love

Tania Saleh is a multi-talent from Beirut. She is a visual artist and designer, a composer and a writer of lyrics, certainly one of the most interesting songwriters in Lebanon. Through her 45 years she has experienced civil war, coups and wars. She has seen her city torn down and rebuilt three times, and she has seen her people split and besieged by conflicts that have spread all the way into her own neighbourhoods.

She is now releasing her fourth solo CD, "A few images" (in Arabic "Schwayyit Sowar"), produced and launched in Scandinavia, Germany, the USA, Canada and a number of countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe by KKV. The songs are about love, though not the sweet romantic kind. Rather this is about all-consuming, passionate love, and lost and failed love. This is love seen from a woman’s point of view in a region of the world where men rule, where a woman's needs are silenced or suppressed.

On her new CD she gives us 11 tracks, mostly with her own melodies and lyrics. She also designed the CD cover. The musicians are from Beirut (guitar, bass, drums, saxophone and various flutes) and Oslo (Piano: Kjetil Bjerkestrand, Vibraphone: Mathias Eick, strings from KORK).

Musically, the CD is strongly inspired by Brazilian music. Samba and bossa nova rhythms are mixed with Arabian instruments and the Arabian style of singing, giving a luscious and catchy sound. The opening track is a tribute to the sea, the only faithful friend Beirut has had over all its years.

The CD, recorded in Beirut and Oslo, has been produced by Tania Saleh and Erik Hillestad and has been released with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Track list:

1. Beirut Windows: As Janelas De Beirute         

2. She Doesn't Love You: Ela Não Te Ama

3. A Few Images: Algumas Imagens

4. Every Time You Go: today Vez due Você Vai

5. A Day is gone: O Dia Se Foi

6. Reda: Reda

7. Those Eyes: Esses Olhos

8. No Problem At All: Não Tem Problema Algum

9. Hushed Scat: Silêncio

10. The Road to Love: A Estrada Para O Amor

11. A Day is Gone: O Dia Se Foi (instrumental)