Born into a music-loving Palestinian family and raised between Jerusalem and Ramallah, Christine Zayed is a singer, composer and musician, and a virtuoso of the qanûn. From an early age, she was introduced to classical and contemporary Arab music, as well as traditional Palestinian music. Her repertoire is based mainly on classical Arab music, based on maqam (the science and practice of Arabic modal improvisation), and on Arabic poetry, particularly contemporary Palestinian poetry. Her compositions, strongly rooted in tradition, are resolutely contemporary, seeking out the paths of modernity through their intersection with other musical universes. She has been living and working in France for several years, collaborating on a wide range of projects, notably with the Ensemble Chakâm and the band Atine. She performs solo or in trio with flutist Sylvain Barou and percussionist Habib Meftah, playing a repertoire that is featured on her first album, Kama Kuntu (“What I was”). The album also features a number of guest stars, including Piers Faccini.
