Yemeni sounds and the Berlin rhythm

Eyal el Wahab has been living in Berlin since 2023. Though the musician’s family is originally from Yemen, Eyal grew up in Israel. For many years he was a professional cellist who played in the Jerusalem Andalusian Orchestra. But then, inspired by his Yemeni roots, he formed the band El Khat and created his own sound: a blend of traditional songs, modern beats and classical sounds. El Khat’s three musicians make their instruments themselves - out of rubbish.

Eyal, you grew up in Israel as the child of Yemeni parents. But you spoke Hebrew at home, not Arabic. What experiences of Yemeni culture did you have as a child and teenager?  

My friends in Israel celebrated the same Jewish festivals, though always in a very different way. I noticed early on that my family for example had different dances and listened to different music than many other people in Israel. 

What role did music play in your family?

Nobody in my family is a musician, if that’s what you mean. But music is part of the Jewish religion and of Yemeni culture. At the synagogue I always found the monotonous singsong sound of the prayers beautiful. I wasn’t so interested in the religious stuff, but the musical side of things stuck in my mind - my earliest memory of music. And we would often sit together as a family and perform an ancient ceremony, a centuries-old ritual: one sits on the floor in a semi-circle, chewing khat leaves - which have a stimulating effect - and singing old songs. As a child I found that great. Once I was an adult, I began organising such get-togethers myself.

You are now a full-time musician with your own band: El Khat. You blend modern beats with traditional Yemeni songs – how did this combination come about? 

For a long time I would only play other people’s music. And then, seven years ago, I discovered an album that changed everything: its title is “Qat, Coffee, Qanbus”. Qat is an alternative spelling of khat - the plant whose leaves people chew. And a qanbus is a very old traditional stringed instrument from Yemen. The album is a collection of traditional Yemeni music of a kind I’d never heard before. It’s so beautiful, very simple and unpolished, played on just two or three instruments. And yet it has a full and rich sound because it is performed so wonderfully. It touched me very deeply and served as a wake-up call for me. I began learning Arabic and making my own Yemeni music. The album strongly influenced my very individual sound. 

You make instruments yourself. Have you ever made a qanbus? 

I did at least try to achieve a similar sound using a pot, a piece of wood and a few strings. I find it interesting to collect discarded items and to turn them into something that produces sound. Like broken bits of furniture or old pots and pans, for instance. The result is a fractured sound that I like very much.   

You moved from Tel Aviv to Berlin in 2023. What attracted you to the German capital? 

I imagined Berlin to be a place where classical music was played everywhere. In my mind’s eye I could see street musicians playing Mendelssohn and Bach on Alexanderplatz or the streets of Neukölln. People who had already been to Berlin before me said that I was living in a dream world. And yes, it seems they were right. But I like Berlin all the same!

What do you particularly like about Berlin? 

I like how open people are. Many aspects of life here are improvised or home-made. It’s such a colourful city, and very cosmopolitan. And you can go to lots of concerts. 

How has Berlin influenced your music? 

I live in Schöneberg, which is home to many people of Turkish descent. So whenever I think of Berlin , I can hear the beautiful sounds of the Turkish language and music in my ears. And of course the classical German music that I love, such as Bach or Wagner. In my ears all of this becomes mixed with the techno beats typical of Berlin and with Yemeni music. Sensory impressions also influence my music: Berlin is so different to Tel Aviv. The colours and shapes, the atmosphere, the rhythm. 

When did you last visit Israel? 

Shortly before Christmas 2024. Actually I’d rather not travel there. But that’s not an option, because I have a mission. I founded an orchestra there in 2022: “The Yemini Orchestra”. We play ancient Yemeni songs with fantastic singers, immigrants who fled from Yemen to live in exile in Israel in the 1950s and later. The musicians only get together when I’m there. I’m still trying to change that, but for now I travel there every three months. The project is very close to my heart and I have to keep doing it. My aim is to give a voice to all Yemeni immigrants - in Israel and all over the world.