Gaida | es

Gaida grew up in Damascus, Syria and later studied classical vocal performance at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Her voice is pristine; clear and round, it resonates from within her nasal cavity – a convention that no doubt stems from Middle Eastern musical tradition, as it is not encouraged in European classical training. Her timbre is not unlike that of a string instrument, allowing her to attain expressive qualities normally out of reach for vocalists.

She delivers melodies in an intimate recitative, using Arabic scales (maqams) ornamented heavily with mordents and appoggiaturas. Her singing is emphasized by subtle theatrics perhaps owing to her classical studies: her face contorts and relaxes, and her hand gestures either become tense or seem to float beside her head, depending on the mood of the piece. .