Amena

Amena is a talented singer and songwriter from Cairo, Egypt. Growing up in the vibrant city, she developed a love for both Arabic and Jazz music. She aims to bring together the best of both worlds creating music that blends her cultural roots with the harmony and rhythms of Jazz. In her newest project, she’s drawing inspiration from pioneers of early Egyptian/Levantine Folk music like Sayed Darwish and Rahbani Brothers. She's set to infuse their timeless compositions with her own twist, in addition to channeling their spirit in her own original compositions.

Amena is an Egyptian-born and raised vocalist who has long dreamed of pursuing a life in music. In 2021, she moved to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she immersed herself in jazz and contemporary music while staying deeply connected to her Arabic roots. Now, having recently completed her studies, she is focused on expanding the reach of Arabic jazz in the UK, bridging traditions and building new musical conversations.

Her influences are wide-ranging and personal, including Arabic film musicians Mohamed Fawzi and Mohamed Abdelwahab, Egyptian folk musicians Sayed Darwish and Sheikh Imam, and Levantine musicians Fairuz, and the Rahbani Brothers. These voices shaped her musical language from an early age, and continue to inform her approach today. Amena’s work blends the melodies, maqams (modes), and rhythms of Arabic music with the harmonic and improvisational characteristics of jazz and the syncopation of South American styles. The result is a sound that moves across borders but stays grounded in feeling and story.

Amena performs with a dedicated ensemble of musicians whose diverse musical backgrounds reflect the openness of the project. Konstantinos Glynos from Greece on the kanun, Ziad Hisham from Egypt on guitar, Julian Woods from the UK on double bass and Anmol Mohara from Nepal on drums. Together, they create an environment that values connection, listening to one another and expression through improvisation.

Having performed across the UK during her time at Guildhall, Amena is now writing and developing new material that explores the space between song and improvisation, tradition and reinterpretation. She is especially interested in how Arabic music can grow and evolve in dialogue with other genres, and how it can resonate with new audiences in London and beyond.