Zahed Sultan finds the beating heart at the centre of a vintage Lebanese disco hit with his latest single and video Layl — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
“Recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown in London, Layl is a reimagination of Do You Love Me, a famous Lebanese disco song from the ’70s by the Bendaly Family,” the award-winning artist, producer and entrepreneur explains. “In this song, I reframe the original version as a contemporary cinematic piece; placing it in a more melancholic and sombre space. With spiraling vocals, deep synths, and rich violin textures, I give greater meaning to the song by expanding on its themes of love and loss; particularly fitting in light of the tragic explosion in Beirut and the crippling of its creative community.
“I found a personal connection in Layl through the original version’s music video which was shot in Kuwait on the waterfront, a project designed by my late father Ghazi Sultan. The release of Layl marks a new path for me as I dedicate myself to rethinking Arab culture through music and multimedia performance.”
Currently based in London, the Kuwaiti-Indian artist has had his music licensed for television and film. Sultan’s ethos is based around fostering community through social impact programs and collaborative arts projects — including Vibrations, his 2018 EP exploring the cultural bridge between Jamaica and Kuwait via Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studio.
Watch Layl above, hear more from Zahed Sultan below, and keep up with him via his website, Facebook and Instagram.
