Hawalat [LP]

Charif Megarbane - Hawalat [LP]

Lebanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Charif Megarbane returns
with Hawalat, a new album that seamlessly blends together a mix of
global influences of sounds and collaborations. Set for release with
Habibi Funk, Hawalat builds on Megarbane's distinct ability to merge
Mediterranean psychedelia, jazz, hip-hop, and orchestral elements into
an evocative listening experience.
Taking inspiration from hawala, a system of informal money transfers made to certain countries
impacted by a lack of currency or unstable contexts. Megarbane spins this concept on its head,
reimagining it as an artistic exchange spanning cultures, generations, and geographies. This spirit
of creative movement is embodied in the album's amalgamative nature, featuring contributions
from an international lineup of artists, including London-based jazz vocalist Sahra Gure, Italian-
Tunisian singer LNDFK, Neapolitan pianist Dario Bassolino, Berlin beatmaker and violinist FloFilz,
and an 18-piece orchestral arrangement by Swedish composer Sven Wunder. Recorded across
multiple locations, from Beirut to Brooklyn, Stockholm to a rural French commune, the album's
sonic journey mirrors its thematic premise.
Musically, the track list of Hawalat travels through a varied journey of textures and temperaments.
The album's opener, Hanadi, is a percussive, Somali-inspired groove with wordless vocals and
soaring saxophone lines. Tracks like Al Dollarji and Al Bahriye encapsulate Megarbane's
signature Mediterranean sound, while Helia, performed with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra,
showcases his cinematic sensibilities. Jana, an homage to the late Malian kora master Toumani
Diabate, sees Megarbane transform his guitar into a kora-like instrument, staying true to his
commitment to experimentation.
Following Marzipan (2023), which took a look inwards at the heart of Lebanon, Hawalat expands
further outwards, exploring themes of diaspora, exile, and artistic migration. ''As much as
Marzipan was a portrait of Lebanon from the inside, Hawalat picks up where it left off,''
Megarbane explains. The album avoids nostalgic recreations of the past, instead situating itself
comfortably in the present with a sound that is both timeless and contemporary.
Known for his prolific output-having released over 100 projects under various monikers-
Megarbane continues to defy categorisation, crafting what he calls ''Lebrary music'': a borderless,
Mediterranean-rooted fusion of library music, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and jazz. His ethos of
spontaneity extends to his live performances, where he and his band reinterpret songs anew with
each show. In 2024, he toured extensively, often sharing the stage with fellow Habibi Funk
collaborator Roger Fakhr, with more performances planned for 2025.
Through Hawalat, Megarbane reaffirms his place as a global musical storyteller, allowing
influences and traditions to cross borders and meet fluidity and spontaneity.

Tracklist 
1. Hanadi 
2. Dreams of an Insomniac 
3. Al Dollarji 
4. Les Vents Dominants 
5. Al Bahriye 
6. Miramar 
7. The Invisible Cut 
8. Helia featuring Sven 
Wunder 
9. East of What 
10. La Calypso 02:41 
11. Hawalat 
12. Sfiha 
13. La Virgule Suspendue 
14. Preamble to the 
Conclusion 
15. Chou Ostak 
16. What Happened Next 
17. Jana 
18. Bil Fey (Digital bonus 
track) 
19. Ni Vu Ni Inconnu (Digital 
bonus track)