*SANAM at Sled Island. Photo credit: Daman Singh (@damaann_*).

When SANAM performed at Sled Island earlier this summer, their set at Central United Church had the audience completely captivated, ending with a standing ovation from the crowd. It was a striking performance combining free-flowing rock and jazz alongside traditional Egyptian music, forming something electrifyingly new. Now, SANAM are preparing to release their second album, Sametou Sawtan, (which translates to I Heard A Voice) out September 19 on Constellation.

Expanding on their acclaimed 2023 debut Aykathani Malakon, the band continues its genre-bending exploration of sound, memory, and cultural identity. Recorded between Beirut, Byblos, and Paris, Sametou Sawtan is sure to continue to captivate listeners.

REVERIE had the chance to ask Sandy Chamoun (vocals), Anthony Sahyoun (guitar, synth) and Pascal Semerdjian (drums), a few questions ahead of their upcoming release. Our conversation is below.

REVERIE: The band pulls from a diverse range of musical influences, you cite psych and kraut rock alongside goth and jazz, what drives the band to explore so many different sounds?

Pascal: We all come from very different musical backgrounds, we each bring in some secret influences without talking and it seems to work when we trust our instincts. The lack of very specific scenes in Lebanon is very liberating. We all do everything and watch all kinds of concerts. We consume whatever we're exposed to and learn to like it.

REVERIE: How would you describe the music scene in Lebanon?

Anthony: Plentiful, Beirut is already described as a melting pot, and the music it produces is akin to that description. We're very lucky to have so much music in such a small country. And the boundaries are almost non-existent, musicians mingle a lot, you see a lot of new bands forming all the time, a lot of improvisations happen between various practices. The situation however is extremely volatile, so the venues and the studios have to hustle a lot, and at times the artists get the butt of it. But there are some strong places who are persistent and always put the artists first.

REVERIE: Are there any other bands you admire that you think readers should listen to?

Anthony: Yes, quite a bit, I take it you're talking about bands from the region, let's say Snakeskin, Sary Moussa, Jad Atoui, Two or the Dragon and Nadah El Shazly to name a few.

REVERIE: What was the recording process like for this new album?

Anthony: Quite different from the previous one, for starters we had Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (our producer) with us throughout the process — there's his thoughts and his energy involved, also we recorded it in Paris not in Beirut in a week of down time during the tour. So the recording carried with it the energy from the stage - and a completely clear headspace and nothing else to do, other than cook maybe.

REVERIE: How does collaboration shape your work?

Anthony: The group was created as a product of collaboration, it wasn't a singular idea at all, or a single vision at all. So really it's at the core of things, it's hard to really say how it shapes the work, it's literally the work.

REVERIE: What does trust in your bandmates look like when performing live or improvisational work?

Pascal: Well, it looks like an exchange of smiles. We love the fact that we're still amazed by each other musically and are big fans of each other's works. We're lucky in that sense.

REVERIE: Your upcoming record tackles themes surrounding distance and disassociation, what drew you to these ideas for your sophomore album?

Sandy: First, it started because of the last five years in Lebanon, with the people who left and those who emigrated. Then it became deeper than that, and I began to think about how we, too, are often forced to leave our own emotions behind just to continue living. And how, on this side of the world, there is always the threat that we might have to leave our land and our homes because of occupation, wars, and political or economic instability.

REVERIE: Sandy, You cite writers Paul Shaoul and Omar Khayyam as influences for your song titles and lyrics on the upcoming album. What draws you to these writers?

Sandy: Omar Khayyam is one of the poetic references I always return to, while Paul Chaoul is a source of inspiration for me. The chaos and radicalism in his writing feel very close to who I am, and I feel as though I’ve plunged into another world, full of colors, images, and poetry — a world that anyone who loves him will interpret in their own way. What connects me to him most is the absurdity, and at the same time, the truth in his work.

REVERIE: Are there any other writers who influence you?

Sandy: I could mention many writers who inspire me, and every now and then I become obsessed with a particular one. But I also prefer to constantly expand my research and not remain tied to a single source.

REVERIE: Can you talk more about the influence of Egyptian song and modern Arabic poetry on your work?

Sandy: Egypt has long been a reference point for us and for our music because of its rich singing traditions and the depth of its culture and heritage. I also feel that a large part of my artistic references come from Egyptian music and culture. So when I return to Egyptian folklore, I feel like I’m going back to something deeply familiar — something I know very well — and I can play and experiment around it in singing and music with freedom and imagination.

REVERIE: The band recently made its first trip to North America in June, which included a stop in Calgary during Sled Island! What was your experience like on tour? And did you have any special memories of Sled Island that you’d like to share?

Pascal: Some of us grew up close to American culture, so it felt familiar and very new to us at the same time! We had the chance to play exceptional venues and festivals, and we keep a great memory from our show at Sled Island. We played in a wooden church with nice acoustics, things were just flowing and we really connected with the crowd. We then went to this bar next door [The Palomino Smokehouse] and watched a couple of punk shows, it was on fire!

SANAM latest album Sametou Sawtan will be released September 19 on Constellation.

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