Spiritually human, Jawhar unveils his new album Khyoot tomorrow. A review of an opus woven with threads of gold, invisibility, and tenderness.
KHYOOT – JAWHAR
Certain folk albums leave me speechless. Such is the case with Khyoot, the new album by Jawhar, where the Belgian-Tunisian artist explores his connections to different worlds. These are external, internal, spiritual… and all are linked by these invisible threads–khyoot in Arabic–that, while unseen, are capable of weaving incredible bonds. Jawhar creates a sublime connection with Aza, who sings alongside him on every track. The collaboration came about naturally, and the harmony of their voices truly elevates the album as a whole. Everything feels more divine, gentler, more moving, and more profound. The interplay of the human and the angelic, with the two seamlessly swapping roles within the same line, sometimes the same note, illuminates the invisible and strengthens the connection to art, nature, and the world, which lies at the heart of this opus.
Together, Jawhar and Aza sing of adolescent lightness (Asfour), pain and anguish (Chochreet), self-image (Howwa), and our purpose in life (Dhwe Dhwet). They also delve into the image of others, especially perceptions of “the Arab” (Leghreed), addressing the political battle for universal acceptance free from prejudice. Yet the battle is arduous (Sayyed Errouh), leading to wandering, artistic or otherwise, and exhaustion, which can sometimes be beneficial (Msefer), culminating in reconciliation and safety (Habbeet, Keysefer Fina). This is an experience to be savoured alone, or alone together (Wejjebni).
Of course, it’s all deeply personal, and with good reason. But this opus, sung entirely in Arabic, is also crafted for the deeply personal experiences, however different, of each listener. Because Jawhar’s threads are intertwined with ours. From the very first track, Khyoot, to the closing Malyoon Mhabes, connecting to this work feels effortless. Following the thread of the story, the logic, and nature becomes utterly natural. The tender folk atmospheres flow seamlessly from luminous to sombre, dreamlike to introspective, gentle to anxious. It transports me, and it’s no surprise that Khyoot by Jawhar is now a personal favourite of mine.
