Jadida tells the story of a world that should be celebrated. Bursting with sheer talent and sophisticated musicality, this band pulls together the strands of different cultures into a unique, accessible sound that is heavily grounded in North African, Middle Eastern and Indian influences. Jadida combines traditional and modern instruments into a rich blend of irresistible rhythms and melodies, pioneering a new platform for global fusion.

Jadida is Arabic for ‘new’ and their name symbolises what this band does – create new music from our lush heritage of global influences. Evolving from their instrumental origins showcased in their debut album Gypsies in an Urban Desert over 12 years ago, Jadida further built on their follow up record World Confusion which welcomed vocalist Beulah Joseph.

Their new live EP From Marrakech to Mumbai encapsulates this band’s love of world fusion. “Tastes of the World” is a modern love song, featuring sultry vocals that call for a response in a swathe of colour and flavours. Their instrumental tracks, “Joy to the People” and “Peace”, combine the warm timbre of the oud with the call of the sax in two very different tunes that drive you from slinky to an all out dance frenzy. “Mere Hathon Mein” is a nod to the traditional Bollywood bhangra beats, making it impossible to stay in your seats. All in all, a record worth waiting for.

Heralding from a wealth of experience in performing in a range of contexts, Jadida has several notches to their belt including Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Melbourne Arts Centre, St Kilda Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Globe to Globe World Music Festival and many others. It is here where Jadida communes with their audience in a joyful celebration of music and dance, led by dancer extraordinaire Josie Palermo.

As vocalist Beulah Joseph comments, “If we are able to share our passion for diverse cultures and musical styles with others, our absolute belief that we are part of a beautifully complex and rich world, then we have done what we set out to achieve.”

And at this, Jadida succeeds beyond all expectations.