Biography
For nearly four decades, Kamilya Jubran has been performing music while, in her words, ‘roaming the in-between spaces and non-commercial milieus of the world’. As a singer, oud and qanun player, and composer (since 2002), Jubran voices notions of resistance, freedom and cultural legacy while developing original musical expression and redefining modern Arabic song.
Jubran has presented her work both as a solo artist and in collaboration with musicians from the Arab world and Europe. She began her musical career in Jerusalem as lead singer and qanun player in the ensemble Sabreen, with whom she collaborated for two decades (1982–2002). Since 2002, Jubran has collaborated with Werner Hasler on a number of experimental music projects, including Wasl (with Sarah Murcia on double bass) (2016), Wanabni (2010), Wameedd (2004) and Mahattaat (2002). With Jubran on vocals and oud and Hasler on trumpet and electronics, the duo explore poetry, language and cultural legacies. In addition to her collaboration with Hasler, Jubran has worked with Murcia on the two albums Habka (2017) and Naoul’ (2013).
Jubran is co-founder and artistic director of Zamkana, established in 2014 as a non-profit education initative for Arabic musicians. In 2018, as part of her work with Zamkana, Jubran initiated Sodassi, a two-week residency programme. Six musicians from the Middle East developed music together under the mentorship of Jubran and then performed their works at venues in Paris and Montpellier.
Jubran studied social work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Born in 1963 in Akka, Palestine, Jubran currently lives and works in Paris.