Eastern Promises

Israeli trio A-WA performs for NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’

The three Tagel sisters sing their hip-hip infused Yemenite tunes for the Washington, DC studio

By Jessica Steinberg

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6 September 2019, 8:14 am Edit

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

That favored Tel Aviv trio of sisters Liron, Tagel and Tair Haim, who make up the band A-WA, this week visited NPR’s Bob Boilen of the famed Tiny Desk Concerts.

The threesome, who first excited listeners with their viral 2016 song “Habib Galbi,” treated NPR listeners to some selections from their new album, “Bayti Fi Rasi” (“My Home is in My Head” in Arabic), about their grandmother’s journey from Yemen to Israel.

A-WA’s songs have always mixed Yemenite and Arabic tunes with tones of reggae and hip-hop, harkening to their own Yemenite heritage on their father’s side, mixed with their musical education that included plenty of modern music.

For “Tiny Desk,” they sang “Habib Galbi,” “Al Asad” and “Hana Mash Hu Al Yaman.”

Check their Facebook page for upcoming tour dates.