Backstage with oud player maestro Naseer Sharma at Shubbak Festival

Earlier this week, The New Arab attended Shubbak Festival, the UK’s largest celebration of contemporary Arab culture, to see iconic Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma performing at London's Barbican Centre.

Having shared the stage with symphony orchestras many times, especially in his programme ‘El Cuidado de una Esencia,’ which blends classical and flamenco music, Naseer’s latest show was a chance to see him perform in a more intimate setting.

Either way, the audience experienced Naseer embracing diverse musical styles and traditions — from Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, and Indian cultures, all the way through to jazz and Latin music.

In an exclusive backstage interview, The New Arab’s associate features editor Zainab Mehdi caught up with Naseer to find out more about the man behind the music, as he returns seven years after his last performance in London in 2018.

Full story🔗 https://www.newarab.com/features/back...

Writing/presenting: Zainab Mehdi

Editing/producing: Moataz Aboamer