The Notes Between with Nadine Khouri

Women in Jazz Media: The Podcasts

Welcome to the next episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Tide is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this episode, Lara talks to songwriter Nadine Khouri

Nadine Khouri is a Beirut-born musician and songwriter currently based in Marseille. Influenced by dream-pop, film soundtracks and spoken-word, her sound has been described as a #music born of perennial outsider-status.” Discovered by legendary producer John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels) for her singular voice, Khouri was invited to sing on his track ‘Baby’s Coming’ and subsequently recorded her debut with the producer in his hometown, Bristol.

Self-released in February 2017, ‘The Salted Air’ cemented Khouri"s one-to-watch status. It was hailed by MOJO as "A thing of dark possessed beauty” in their four-star album review, celebrated by Q (Critics Choice) and selected as one of Rough Trade’s Albums of the Year. Acclaimed music photographer Steve Gullick (Nirvana, Bonnie $Prince" Billy) shot Khouri"s press photos and cover art. He also directed the video for #You Got A Fire”.

Since the album’s release, Khouri has performed in some of Europe’s most prestigious venues, including Royal Festival Hall, Botanique, Paradiso, The Berlin Palace, and has shared the stage with Low, Aldous Harding, Marissa Nadler, and many more.

Her follow-up album, ‘Another Life’ was released on French label Talitres on November 18th 2022. Recorded between London and Bristol with John Parish, the album extends the collaborative partnership that began with Khouri"s acclaimed debut. Fans of Khouri"s music so far will recognise her distinct and minimalistic approach to both vocals and music alike: the serene, dreamlike quality to her songs, suffused with otherworldly, beatific textures. Sonically, the album is set to a shifting sonic tapestry, taking in blues, fragile drum machine rhythms and sun-bleached 1970s Laurel Canyon rock. Though the record finds Khouri uncertain of her place in the world, her music has never felt more assured or precise.

Athens born to Lebanese Canadian parents, Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different. As an independent artist, singer and multi- instrumentalist, she has carved a path for herself that continuously aimed at reshaping and developing her voice as a storyteller. An accomplished and reputable singer-songwriter, pianist, recording artist and jazz- folk vocalist of her own accord based in London and Athens. Her music has gained her critical acclaim as a genre bending artist (BBC Artist, 2020), described as “a singer with true gift of a voice, a kind soul, and a captivating presence.” (Jazz UK). At the heart of her being as a multi-disciplinary artist, she is sought after as a composer for vocal film scores, writes as a freelance music journalist, and is in demand as a creative workshop leader. Her music seeks to elevate and heal, and as a result, she creates genre- defying songs with a great emphasis on story telling. Her latest album ‘Sun’, her long awaited debut album, is all about pulling the threads of her folk, acoustic rock and jazz-classical upbringing to her message of hope, empowerment, and freedom. As a soloist, her recent debut performance at the infamous Royal Albert Hall, singing select pieces from Greece and Lebanon form the MedievalByzantine Traditions sees Lara engaging on a series of select and innovative performances with the SAUDHA Indian Classical Music Association.