Singing in Ladino and Arabic Maqam. In the project Songs We Carry, musicians Ana Silvera and Saied Silbak unite their Jewish and Palestinian heritage. Together, they craft a rich and intricate soundscape that allows room for playfulness, melancholy, and reflection. On ALICE’s stage, they carry more than just songs. They carry a reminder of human kinship and solidarity in a turbulent world.

Songs We Carry is a collaboration between British singer and multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera and Palestinian composer Saied Silbak. Through this project, they merge their Jewish and Palestinian roots into a richly detailed and narrative sound. Silvera’s Sephardic ancestors migrated during the Spanish Inquisition, while Silbak himself has moved — from his hometown Shafaa’mr to the metropolis of London – where the two musicians first met at a party just a few years ago. Together, they create music that transcends borders, histories, and cultures: Silvera sings in Ladino, a critically endangered language spoken by Sephardic Jews; with his oud, Silbak connects Arabic maqam to other musical traditions.

Both Saied Silbak and Ana Silvera have released several works individually. As a duo, they performed last year at the Cinemateket in Denmark and have also appeared internationally at venues like the Vortex Jazz Club in Norway, Sibelius Museum in Finland, and the Amare in the Netherlands. Their debut album was released in autumn 2024 with a sold-out launch concert at King’s Place in London. “Their very presence on stage,” wrote one reviewer “and the harmony that binds them, are enough of a statement, a declaration of love and of humanity.” Their music bridges not only two souls but also two cultures. When they take the stage at ALICE this April, they bring more than just songs—they bring a reminder of human connection and solidarity in a turbulent world.