Saint Levant Releases Debut Album “DEIRA,” Blending North African Melodies and Contemporary Pop
Palestinian-Algerian artist Saint Levant has released his eagerly awaited debut album, DEIRA, through Universal Arabic Music. Produced by Saint Levant, Abdellah Messous, Khalil Cherradi, and others, this album melds English, French, and Arabic, infusing North African melodies, Arab percussive beats, and contemporary pop. Accompanied by five visualizers set to release later on Friday, **DEIRA** presents a vibrant storytelling experience. [Listen to DEIRA here](#).
**DEIRA** reflects Saint Levant’s multicultural upbringing in Palestine and Jordan, born to a Palestinian-Serbian father and a Palestinian-Algerian mother. Inspired by the Al Deira Hotel in Gaza, the album imagines a future return to a liberated Palestine. Saint Levant explains, “All Palestinian art from the last 75 years, whether Sliman Mansour’s paintings or Ghassan Kanafani’s poetry, begins before the artist and always at the same point: the Nakba of 1948. Since then, every Palestinian continues the journey of catastrophe, displacement, and exile, dreaming of return and resisting until they are rooted once more on their land. **DEIRA** embodies multiple journeys for me. The title evokes a hotel overlooking the sea in Al-Rimal, Gaza City, designed and operated by my father since 2001. Al Deira Hotel was a beautiful structure and my childhood home, destroyed by IDF bombings in late 2023. The project’s visual language imagines the hotel as a locale of return, symbolizing a free Palestine.”
**DEIRA** explores themes of love, displacement, identity, and culture, with standout tracks like “Galbi,” “5am in Paris,” and “Deira.” The album features collaborations with Kehlani, MC Abdul, TIF, Sol Band, and Algerian Raï legend Cheb Bilal. Sol Band’s lead vocalist, Rahaf, recorded her vocals from Gaza, emphasizing the album’s deep connection to Palestinian roots. Palestinian-Jordanian artist Zeyne provided background vocals throughout the album, adding another layer of rich cultural texture. Saint Levant performs in French, Arabic, and English, offering a profound and layered listening experience.
“Galbi” is a harmonic blend of English, French, and Arabic, set against warm instrumentation with violin and percussion, showcasing Saint Levant’s talent for integrating diverse musical influences.
“Allah Yihmeeki,” featuring Kehlani, includes vibrant vocals from Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna’s live performances, where she chants, “Aywah! Yalla Yalla Yanna.” Zeyne’s background harmonies add depth to this dynamic fusion of Arab-pop and R&B, highlighting Saint Levant’s ability to merge traditional and contemporary sounds.
“5am in Paris” captures the essence of late-night reflections and early-morning epiphanies.
The title track “Deira,” featuring MC Abdul, is an introspective tribute to Palestinian culture, with Saint Levant and MC Abdul showcasing their talents in traditional Shaabi Arab musical style. Accompanied by a live performance video, this track uses traditional Arabic instruments like the oud and darbuka, adding a rich cultural layer to the music. With evocative lyrics and a compelling melody, it stands as a highlight of Saint Levant’s nuanced storytelling.
Following his electrifying Coachella performance, Saint Levant will perform at New York City’s Governors Ball on June 9, further solidifying his dynamic presence in the global music scene.
