Artist Spotlight: Ghadr

Arguably, one of the most inventive projects in the Lebanese independent music scene, Ghadr - consisting of vocalist and performer Sandy Chamoun, composer and programmer Anthony Sahyoun and sound artist and improviser Jad Atoui - has built a name for themselves through its avant-garde, socially-conscious music. From ghostly interpretations of Bedouin folk songs to reflections on the genocide in Gaza, their sound is deeply rooted in electronic experimentations, blending vibrant, distorted circuits of guitar and modular synthesis with stuttering sub bass layered atop melancholic vocals rooted in classical Arabic singing. 

At the 2025 edition of Utrecht’s Le Guess Who? Festival, where Ghadr performed their self-titled record, we spoke with Sandy Chamoun and Jad Atoui about the meaning behind their project’s name and their on-stage creative process. They described how the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon shaped their compositional approach, leaving a lingering sense of betrayal that permeates their music. The duo also reflected on the festival’s significance, highlighting the intimate connection they feel with Le Guess Who? despite its scale, and the chance to present their work to a broad, diverse audience.

Watch the full interview below: