EL KHAT

This is not the first time we proclaim that string instruments come in all shapes and sizes. However, we really have to emphasize it again this time. El Khat, originating from Yemen, Israel, Poland, Morocco, and Iraq, is also one of those bands that has managed to build a very unique sound palette with a DIY attitude. This is thanks to homemade instruments. For example, check out the Instagram page of singer/multi-instrumentalist Eyal El Wahab. There you can see how he ingeniously crafts various string instruments with old tin cans, pot lids, and a bicycle wheel. This band is inspired by Yemeni folk music and pop from the sixties, but sounds surprisingly modern as a result. Sometimes the wind in their songs seems to blow from Ethiopia, evidenced by the Mulatu Astatke-like organs. Surprisingly danceable music that is at least as addictive as the substance this band is named after.