SHIRAN & BAKAL - Electro Baghdad - اليكترو بغداد SHIRAN & BAKAL

‘Electro Baghdad’ expands on the ideas explored on the duo’s self-released 2023 debut EP ‘Electro Hafla, and builds upon SHIRAN’s solo work, which earned her a Songlines “Top of the World” award and widespread praise for her expressive voice and dynamic reinterpretation of traditional Yemeni music - an influence drawn from her maternal heritage.

Both born to half-Yemeni, half-Iraqi parents in Israel, SHIRAN and Bakal’s music reflect their diverse heritage. Singing previously in Yemenite Arabic, she bridged generations by blending traditional melodies with contemporary sounds. Now with 'Electro Baghdad', SHIRAN and Bakal pay tribute to their Iraqi roots, recontextualising traditional songs passed down through generations, using analog synths, heavy basslines, and pulsing electronic grooves.

One standout track is their transformation of the traditional Iraqi song “Ah Ya Layla Yumma”, turning it into a rousing “Electro Hafla” (Arabic party) anthem. The title, meaning “Oh my night, mother”, is a common phrase in Iraqi songs, often expressing deep emotional pain and a longing for comfort - an intensity mirrored in the large family gatherings where these songs are traditionally performed. SHIRAN leads a chorus of female voices, weaving through the highs and lows of love, heartbreak, and healing, only to repeat the cycle again. Traditional Middle Eastern instrumentation, such as the stringed qanun, ney flute, and handclapped Dabke-like percussion, intertwines with driving electronic basslines, bridging past and present.

Album opener “Sghayiroun” (Little One) is a tender and poetic reflection on love, separation, and longing. It speaks of missing a younger loved one “dearer to us than our whole family,” with lyrics so poignant they declare, “I swear I’ll sew my eyes shut until they return”. This emotional weight is counterbalanced by a hypnotic mid-tempo groove, driven by a pulsating bassline and adorned with saz-like synths, making it one of the album’s most mesmerising tracks.

Another highlight, “Eshrab Kasak Wethanna” (Drink Your Glass and Be Happy), embraces joy despite the pain it took to reach it. The lyrics toast to resilience: “Drink, my love. My family turned against me because of you, and people told me to leave, but I stayed”. The song celebrates choosing happiness even when others don’t understand your love, blending heartache and warmth in a way that feels deeply real. Bakal’s electronic production builds an immersive world, where lovers can dance the night away, untouched by the judgement of others.

“It’s a personal album for us, connecting past and present, tradition and future – but also something that can move people physically and emotionally,” say SHIRAN and Bakal. With Electro Baghdad, they breathe new life into Iraqi musical heritage, retaining the emotional core of the original melodies, sung in Iraqi Arabic, while surrounding them with a modern, energetic, and dynamic sound designed for live performance.