All Maryem Tollar wanted to do after high school was make a living through music. When she told her father, he forbade her.
She joined a Toronto-based Arabic singing group in protest – a decision that would change her life. It renewed her interest in her cultural heritage, connected her with her future husband, and led her to form the world music ensemble Al Qahwa in 2016. Through the release of the ensemble’s fourth album Weyn Allah, she hopes to use music to bring her newfound feelings of freedom and belonging to the world.
Read the full article on La Scena Musicale.
Photo caption: From left to right: Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Demetri Petsalakis, Naghmeh Farahmand (Photo © Cathy Ord)