How Lebanese band Adonis found space to retreat and rebuild on new album Wedyan

What's the difference between silence and quiet in times of conflict? For Lebanese band Adonis, it came down to agency – the ability to choose how, and when, to express themselves.
Released last month and recorded during the 2024 Israel invasion of Lebanon – the veteran group, known for their ebullient sound and emotionally precise lyrics, has delivered a set of songs intentionally detached from the immediate context of the conflict.
In doing so, it becomes a statement of resilience – that their art is guided by creative intent, not shaped by the surrounding disorder. And, crucially, that making music became a means of emotional preservation in times of chaos.
'We were devastated during the war, of course,' singer and keyboardist Anthony Khoury tells The National. 'But the music was elsewhere. It didn't sit with us in that very dark place. We needed to protect something. Maybe it was our joy, our creativity.. maybe even our sanity.'
It's no wonder Wedyan – meaning 'valleys' – is Adonis's most insular album to date. Across 12 tracks, we follow a character who slowly but intently shies away from society into a life of solitude and contemplation. The lyrics don't frame this as a form of defeat, but as a healthy response to turmoil – a way to protect one's inner state when the world outside feels overwhelming.
The lyrics drift between musings and fragments, reflecting on identity, exile and life itself. Some are drawn from personal moments, including Khoury's newborn nephew and a tribute to his late grandmother.
Intriguingly, the turn inward isn't always mirrored in the music. While the arrangements are more languid, the four-piece stretch out with light-footed shifts into electronica – like on Khod Sa'at – and chirpy RnB vocals on Yeskerni. Even Nancy, the album's most upbeat track, is anchored by a laid-back funk groove.
That marriage of emotional introspection and expansive musical approach, Khoury explains, comes from the band writing the songs separately.
Khoury was living between Paris and Amman, while the rest of the group – Joelle Khoury (guitar), Nicola Hakim (drums) and Gio Fikany (bass) – remained in different parts of Lebanon.
'For the first time, we weren't really immersed in the Lebanese context,' Khoury says. 'It definitely felt like we were writing from the outside. That physical distance, I think, gave us the space to reflect without the same kind of pressure. We weren't reacting, were just processing.'
He adds the time apart, about 15 years into Adonis's career, was also liberating – a chance to recalibrate, both creatively and emotionally. Khoury says the step back wasn't a difficult one – just necessary. A moment to take stock, acknowledge what they were feeling and prepare for the often gruelling process of recording new material.
'Like the character in the album, we were isolated – and we longed for that isolation. You reach a point where you just want to protect something. For us, it was the ability to create without being swallowed by everything happening around us. That's why this album feels different. It had to be.'
Indeed, the album stands out for the distinct sonic flavours it employs to channel the various states of mind of its protagonist. The aching melancholy of Ma'rafha – meaning I Don't Know Her – melds a sparse piano motif with minimal electronic beats, as Khoury reflects on the quiet devastation of a breakup. Not the rupture itself, but the self-protective urge to erase everything attached to it. 'Even if they asked me, 'Who's the beautiful one?'' he sings in the refrain. 'I'd tell them: I don't know her, I don't know her.'
While in Kel Ma Tsame'n i (Whenever You Say), the resigned character's exile from his troubles results in the clarity he needs, and a quiet sense of resolve emerges in his decision to stay away from unwanted opinions: 'Every time you tell me lines from movies, from friends who wanted to give you their opinion about me".
In Abtal (Heroes), Adonis emerges from lyrical detachment to directly engage with the present moment. Over ebbing beats, the band pays tribute to the unsung heroes of Lebanon — ordinary individuals offering shelter, comfort and their professional skills in times of crisis. Khoury says he witnessed this during the aerial bombardment of Beirut by Israeli forces, a situation that left many villages cut off from one another, with civilians and neighbours stepping in to fill the initial absence of official support.
"In Lebanon, the conflict created a rupture between different parts of the same city – some areas were being bombarded, while others weren't directly affected. What happens in that kind of environment is that you start noticing how people respond socially. Usually, you're too consumed by the tragedy itself to really observe. But this time, I saw people – civilians – stepping up in quiet ways," he recalls.
"I was in Beirut during that phase, in an area that wasn't directly targeted. But the entire neighbourhood was mobilised to support those that were. I'm talking about doctors, journalists, teachers – even pilots who continued operating flights despite bombings near the airport. Abtal is dedicated to them.
With the band recently completing a headline set at the Bred Abu Dhabi festival and returning soon for a solo concert at Dubai Opera on July 3, Khoury says Wedyan has left Adonis not only rejuvenated, but with a renewed sense of direction. It also served as a reminder of how creativity can be a grounding force during uncertain times.
'I wasn't raised or trained to be a musician. I had a different path in life,' he says. 'But what I've found through music, and what I think I'll keep finding for a very long time, is meaning. I feel like I have a place and a voice.
'I'm aware that our kind of work is the least essential when it comes to keeping a society functioning. And sometimes in Lebanon, we're in first-degree survival mode, more often than we'd like to be. But I have immense hope. Hope in my country, in our region and in the goodness of people. And with that hope, I think there will be less and less to lose and much more to gain.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Khaleej Times

an hour ago

• Khaleej Times

UAE eases visa renewal rules for Sudanese expats amid conflict

In a humanitarian gesture reflecting the UAE's support for nations in distress, the country has announced that Sudanese nationals in violation of residency laws will be allowed to apply for new visas, renew their residency permits, and obtain Emirates IDs—even if their passports are valid for less than six months. The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule. The United Nations says that nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population, more than 30 million people, will need aid this year. The UAE more than once reiterated its firm stance in favour of Sudan's people and their right to civilian governance, stressing that it does not support or contribute to the killing or displacement of civilians. The move to ease visa renewal rules for Sudanese expats in the UAE was not the first. Earlier this year, the country also announced that Sudanese in the UAE will be exempt from all fines related to residence and entry permits, starting May 19, 2025. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) said that the exceptional measure aims to facilitate the process of regularising the status of Sudanese nationals in the country in light of the ongoing war. Sudanese nationals can renew their residency permits and obtain identity cards using passports with a validity of less than six months, the ICP told Khaleej Times on Saturday. The decision, which came into effect on May 19, will remain valid until the end of this year. Those facing accumulated fines can now regularise their status and submit applications for new or renewed documents via the ICP's official digital platforms, even if their passport validity is less than six months. The authority also stated that procedures would be streamlined and flexible, and that fines would be waived. The move is made in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre). Over the past two years, the UAE has made sincere efforts to promote peace in the country. In contrast, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have repeatedly obstructed these initiatives and have now severed diplomatic ties with the UAE — despite the International Court of Justice recently dismissing their "fabricated accusations," according WAM.

The National

3 hours ago

• The National

Vladimir Putin pledges support for Iranian nuclear energy programme

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Iran has a right to a civilian nuclear energy programme, while he also added to calls for diplomatic efforts to resolve the escalating conflict between Israel and Tehran. He told Sky News Arabia that "Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and we are ready to provide the necessary support". Mr Putin also called for "flexibility" from Iran and Israel as a means to resolving the conflict. He said Moscow had told Israel that Iran was not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. 'The International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that there is no evidence of Iran possessing or seeking to possess nuclear weapons,' added Mr Putin. 'Russia's position is that we oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by any country, and our stance is well known to Iran. 'We are aware that Iran is an Islamic state and, like any Islamic state, it has internal rules that are important to its people and leadership. I would like to remind you that Iran has adopted a fatwa [religious ruling] prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons, and this is extremely significant." He noted that 'if Israel has concerns, those must be addressed and alleviated – and there is a way to do that". But he emphasised that neither Russia nor the IAEA "has any evidence that Iran wants or is trying to obtain nuclear weapons, and we have conveyed this to the Israeli leadership". Speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg on Friday, Mr Putin said Russia was sharing its ideas on how to stop the bloodshed in the conflict with both Israel and Iran. He did not give details about those ideas. Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. Fears are mounting over the potential involvement of the US in the conflict. President Donald Trump said he would make a decision on whether American forces would join the war 'in the next two weeks', White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday. Russia's Foreign Ministry has warned the US not to take military action against Iran. Moscow issued its warning after Mr Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call in which they condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran and called for a diplomatic solution.

UAE Moments

3 hours ago

• UAE Moments

UAE Evacuates Citizens from Iran Amid Rising Tensions

The UAE has confirmed the successful evacuation of several citizens and residents stranded in Iran, following days of rising military tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv. The operation, supported by Iranian authorities, was carried out amid ongoing airspace closures and widespread travel disruptions across the region. State-run WAM released footage of the dramatic return: one man dropping to his knees to kiss a welcome mat on the tarmac at Abu Dhabi Airport, while other evacuees appeared visibly emotional. The exact number of evacuees was not disclosed. The evacuation comes after Israel's missile strikes on Tehran last Friday triggered a wave of retaliatory attacks and increased instability. Airspace closures have since grounded or rerouted numerous international flights, complicating repatriation efforts. As the situation unfolded, the UAE intensified its diplomatic outreach to help de-escalate the crisis and restore calm. Authorities also urged Emiratis in high-risk countries—including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan, and Iraq—to register on the Twajudi platform for emergency support. Relief for Iranians in the UAE In a show of solidarity, the UAE has also stepped in to assist Iranian nationals currently in the country. On Tuesday, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) announced that overstay fines would be waived for Iranian citizens unable to return home due to flight cancellations and travel restrictions. The directive was issued under orders from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who emphasized compassion and support for individuals caught in what the government described as 'exceptional circumstances.' One especially moving clip shared online shows an elderly Emirati man, just evacuated from Iran, kneeling to kiss the ground upon landing—capturing the emotional weight of the moment for many. We are living in a blessing and heaven God bless the UAE 🇦🇪 — حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) June 20, 2025