HIYA Live Sessions: An All-Female Line Up of SWANA Artists Raises the Bar

In a 12-hour marathon, beginning the morning of March 13th and ending in the early hours of March 14th, HIYA LIVE SESSIONS هي brought an all-female lineup of musical artists from the SWANA region into the homes of listeners from London to Jeddah, Rabat to Knoxville. An explosion of sound and emotion, this music marathon, curated by Shirine Saad and Natalie Shooter, and co-hosted and supported by Al-Bustan, felt like a cathartic release as the world slowly awakens from the paralysis of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also reminds us of the trailblazing work of female artists.

HIYA LIVE SESSIONS هي was broadcast live and direct from artists across the globe by Al-Bustan, Radio Alhara, SceneNoise, Disco Tehran, MARSM, Hammam Radio, Live, Future Female Sounds, Ballroom Blitz, Radio Raheem, ROOT Radio, and the Beirut Groove Collective. Through music, we were globally connected for a moment in a year of isolation. At the same time the performances and interviews were intimate, despite the separation of distance and the screen between artist and audience. The audience hyped up artists in the comments, writing:

Dancing in my kitchenshiversYes! My aunties are so badass! Egyptian matriarchy at its finestthis is magicGO OFFFFman her [Makimakkuk] set...keeps on cominnnnnnnThese selections are so so good!

The vibe of HIYA LIVE SESSIONS هي is credit to its line-up of female creators who have made complex and contradictory voices and histories known in an industry that favors the simple and commercial. Their power was undeniable and carried from one set to the next, unapologetically reminding all of us of the rarity of the moment. Their collaboration felt particularly poignant in this Women’s History Month, as a reminder to all of us that our message is louder when we speak it together. Al-Bustan is proud to have supported HIYA LIVE SESSIONS هي and is committed to continually amplifying the voices of women in our community.

If you missed HIYA Live Sessions, keep an eye out for a sample of the line-up to be released soon!