Shmaali شمالي
by Yasmine Hamdan
Keith Barnett
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about
Yasmine Hamdan’s new single, Shmaali شمالي , releases on March 21, 2025. The track merges electronic production and Palestinian folk tradition, drawing from tarweeda—a form of coded songs used by Palestinian women to express sorrow and joy while defying occupation and domination. Traditionally performed and preserved by women, these encrypted verses date back to the late Ottoman Empire and the British mandate over Palestine. Shmaali شمالي reimagines this heritage through a mesmerizing melody and intricate wordplay, bridging past and present :
Northern is the wind of home
To those doors that open to the north
Tonight, I’ll send with the northern wind
To reach and look for the loved ones
A pioneer in indie electronic music, Hamdan co-founded the Beirut duo Soapkills before launching her international career as a solo singer-songwriter and producer, elegantly entwining far-ranging elements, from pan-Arabic roots and pop and poetic lyrics, to electronica, soul and guitar melodies. She has collaborated with artists and filmmakers worldwide and her third album is set for release in September 2025 on Crammed Discs/[PIAS].
Yasmine Hamdan - Shmaali شمالي - digital release - March 21, 2025. - Crammed Discs/[PIAS]
Northern is the wind of home
To those doors that open to the north
Tonight, I’ll send with the northern wind
To reach and look for the loved ones
A pioneer in indie electronic music, Hamdan co-founded the Beirut duo Soapkills before launching her international career as a solo singer-songwriter and producer, elegantly entwining far-ranging elements, from pan-Arabic roots and pop and poetic lyrics, to electronica, soul and guitar melodies. She has collaborated with artists and filmmakers worldwide and her third album is set for release in September 2025 on Crammed Discs/[PIAS].
Yasmine Hamdan - Shmaali شمالي - digital release - March 21, 2025. - Crammed Discs/[PIAS]
lyrics
شمالي لالي يا هوالي لديرة شمالي لالي يا وريللوووو
ع لالي للبواب هولولم تفتح شمالي لالي يا رويللووو
وانا ليليلبعث معليلريح الشمالي لالي يا رويللووو
ياصليلار ويدورليللي على لحبيليلابا يا رويللووو
شمالي يا هوا الديرة شمالي
على اللي بوابهم تفتح شمالي
وانا الليلة لبعث مع الريح الشمالي
يوصل ويدور على الحباب يابا
Northern is the wind of home
To those doors that open to the north
Tonight, I’ll send with the northern wind
To reach and look for the loved ones
ع لالي للبواب هولولم تفتح شمالي لالي يا رويللووو
وانا ليليلبعث معليلريح الشمالي لالي يا رويللووو
ياصليلار ويدورليللي على لحبيليلابا يا رويللووو
شمالي يا هوا الديرة شمالي
على اللي بوابهم تفتح شمالي
وانا الليلة لبعث مع الريح الشمالي
يوصل ويدور على الحباب يابا
Northern is the wind of home
To those doors that open to the north
Tonight, I’ll send with the northern wind
To reach and look for the loved ones
credits
released March 21, 2025
Credits :
Vocals & backing vocals: Yasmine Hamdan
Backing vocals: Tina Hamdan
Keyboards, programming: Marc Collin
Keyboard solo: Công Minh Pham
Guitar: Cédric Le Roux
Percussion programming: Wael Alkak
Music & words from Palestinian folklore (public domain)
Arranged and edited by Yasmine Hamdan & Marc Collin
Credits :
Vocals & backing vocals: Yasmine Hamdan
Backing vocals: Tina Hamdan
Keyboards, programming: Marc Collin
Keyboard solo: Công Minh Pham
Guitar: Cédric Le Roux
Percussion programming: Wael Alkak
Music & words from Palestinian folklore (public domain)
Arranged and edited by Yasmine Hamdan & Marc Collin
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Yasmine Hamdan Beirut, Lebanon
Yasmine Hamdan first made waves in the music scene with the pioneering Beirut indie electronic duo Soapkills, which she co-
founded with Zeid Hamdan in the late 1990s.
Since then, she has earned international acclaim as a solo singer-songwriter and producer, elegantly entwining far-ranging elements, from pan-Arabic roots and pop and poetic lyrics, to electronica, soul and guitar melodies.
... more
discography
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Mar 2025 -
Feb 2025 -
May 2020 -
Jun 2018 -
Mar 2017 -
Apr 2013 -
Apr 2014 -
May 2014 -
May 2014
contact / help
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