With a minimalist life philosophy, EL KHAT experiments with DIY homemade instruments to create Arabic tunes of Yemeni origin. While the detachment from any nation or any flag is a driving force behind the group, the heart of their music and heritage is rooted in the culture of Yemen.

Back in 2019, El Khat began to hone their sound in garages and warehouses. Experimenting with DIY homemade instruments, as an expression of a minimalist life philosophy, led the three-piece to create a collection of Arabic tunes of Yemeni origin.

While the detachment from any nation or any flag is a driving force behind the group, the heart of their music and heritage is rooted in the culture of Yemen. The constant divisions that have been created by wars and immigrations has pushed out a reassembled identity, something that is strongly felt in El Khat’s music. With two albums behind them and a third to be released in autumn 2024, El Khat is constantly in motion as they share their art globally.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

“Joyously mixing authentically Arabic musical tropes with ethnomusicological forgeries. Vigorous psychedelic stomps … an exciting new discovery.” Uncut

The songs on Albat Alawi Op.99 are [band leader Eyal el Wahab’s] own compositions and he has created a denser, rougher sound to carry them. The result is like a whirlwind in a workshop: a barrage of freaked percussion, whomping bass and choral voices set off by banks of detuned brass.” The Wire

“Band theme song El Khat has searing desert guitar and Leilat Al Henna’s mournful vocals, as violin and ghostly organ conjure a distant, unknown homeland.” Mojo

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