Bands Seera and Garwasha flourish in Saudi Arabia's community-driven music scene
DHAHRAN: Two Saudi bands, Seera and Garwasha, are taking advantage of the flourishing underground music scene in the country by performing at local cultural hubs.
While the big hitters such as the MDLBEAST-organized SOUNSTORM in Riyadh and Balad Beast in Jeddah draw the crowds — and international superstars — year on year, it is the beloved meeting spots in the country's urban hubs that have become stages for rising Saudi talents.
One of those spots is Khobar's Bohemia Café & Records, where Seera and Garwasha played a packed out gig this past weekend.
Long known as a cultural hub for music lovers, the meeting place played host to Seera, an all-women band formed in 2022 in Riyadh, who entertained the crowd with their unique sound.
'A lot of people are intrigued; they want to know what we sound like. They've been so supportive, honestly, especially people in the music scene. We've had a lot of help from people around. And there's the people who criticize, but that's just noise we block out,' Seera's Meesha told Arab News. Members of the band prefer to go by their first name.
A post shared by (@seera_music)
Merging Arabic melodies and rock, the band navigated complex musical landscapes, evoking a gothic energy that resonated with their listeners.
Seera's set featured standout tracks 'Share3 Al Buhturi' and 'Al Fanaa.'
Bassist Meesha shared the beginning of Seera's journey as a band, stating, "The singer is my sister, and we've always wanted to start a band together. I would post covers of myself on Instagram, and Haya, the guitarist, found me and said, 'You! I want to start a band with you.' We were all really excited; we wrote ten songs in one night."
'And then our missing link was the drummer, whom we met at a French music night she organized. The rest is history,' she later told Arab News.
Following Seera's stirring performance, Garwasha took to the stage to showcase their new album, released in November 2024.
This instrumental Alternative Fusion band, also hailing from Riyadh, is known for blending smooth, synthesizer-laden jazz with a robust Arabic flavor.
A post shared by GARWASHA (@_garwasha_)
Guitarist Mazen Lawand, who studied at Berklee College of Music, sub-keyboard player Fawaz Waleed, sub-bass player Saud Alsheikh, and drummer Hassan Alkhedher delivered a thrilling performance with tracks like 'Consolacao' and 'Batt Habibi.'
'I describe our music as a characterization of our experiences and influences,' Lawand explained.
This sentiment was evident throughout their performance as they weaved together a tapestry of sounds that reflected their backgrounds and the rich culture of Saudi Arabia.
As the night continued, one thing became clear; support for local musicians is ever-growing.
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