Youmna Saba

At EMS 16–30 January, 2025

Photo by Nasri Sayegh

Youmna Saba (Beirut 1984) is a musician, composer, and musicologist. She holds a Master’s degree in musicology from Antonine University in Lebanon. Her current research deals with the relationship between electroacoustic music and the Arabic language in its sung form. These explorations manifest themselves in various projects, ranging from musical compositions for her solo project, collaborations, and film music to electroacoustic experiments on new devices designed for voice and her instrument, the oud.

She is the laureate of the first sound residency at the Musée du Quai Branly with her project “La Réserve des Non-Dits” (2022-2024) and has participated in artist residencies at the Cité Internationale des Arts (Paris 2020-2021), Sharjah Art Foundation (2021), Voce CNCM (2020), GMEM (2020), Césaré CNCM (2020-2021), Hwaeom Spiritual Music Residency (South Korea, 2017), Sound Development City (Spain, Morocco, 2016), and Gyeonggi Creation Center (South Korea, 2013). Her fifth solo album, “Wishah,” was released on the label Touch in 2023.

This residency is supported by Culture Moves Europe, a project funded by the European Union.