Ahmad Tilawi

Mawawel Jerh Kalbi (Mawal From My Heart's Wounds)

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In this cassette released by Al-Faihaa records from a wedding Tilawi performed in 2009, the traditional string arrangement of Syrian folk songs is mixed with the keyboard. Notably here, the presence of the keyboard remains limited and intermittent throughout the cassette, as it seems that Tilawi’s voice, accustomed to string accompaniment for several decades, does not fully appreciate this modern electronic shift. Throughout both sides of the cassette, Tilawi sings a series of mawals, most of which flatter the wedding families, singing them in a sticky, deep voice that adheres to the ear like glue, and like glue, also intoxicates its listener.

Ahmad Tilawi comes from the city of Saraqib in Idlib governorate. He achieved great fame and popularity in the Syrian shaabi scene during the 1980s and 1990s – performing mawal, attaba and dabke tirelessly at weddings and private parties.