Sardy Fardy, composed by Ayman Asfour, grew out of a single idea: to write melodies inspired by Egyptian musical heritage, set inside a rhythmic framework built on odd meters (rhythms whose basic count is an odd number). The captivating result: familiar melodies molded into unfamiliar rhythmic shapes. These Egyptian melodic phrases share the ability to tell a story, giving voice to feelings like joy, sorrow, longing, and love. The tension in this unfamiliar combination of melody and rhythm evokes an older sensibility, one heard in some of Sayed Darwish's muwashahat and in the instrumental preludes of Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Baligh Hamdi. And yet, each composition explores how this friction between melody and rhythm creates unexpected potential for experimentation and new sounds.
The album's six tracks were composed and recorded across two cities: the first three in Asfour's home city of Alexandria, Egypt, with a group of longtime friends and collaborators, and the second three in Brooklyn, inspired by and developed with many talented musicians in New York’s Arabic music scene.
The album's mesmerizing concept crystallizes in the first half, developing a sound that is deeply rooted in the familiar and yet unexpectedly contemporary. In the second half of the album, Asfour's compositions spin off in unexpected directions, offering a novel and expansive approach to classic Arabic maqam, incorporating jazz and experimental sounds.
Full Album Credits:
Composed by Ayman Asfour
Produced by Ayman Asfour
Executive Produced by Alexandra Schindler
Recorded by:
Tracks 1–3: Ehab Gerges & Felo Mokhles at Rock Sound Studio in Alexandria, Egypt (2025)
Track 4: Andres Abenante at Jaybird Studios in Brooklyn, NY (2026)
Tracks 5–6: Charles Mueller at Tiny Panther Recording in Brooklyn, NY (2026)
Mixed by:
Tracks 1–3: Michael Coltun
Track 4: Sam Minaie
Tracks 5–6: Charles Mueller
Mastered by Heba Kadry, NYC
Assisted by Jacob Clements
Artwork by Friederike Ruff
Graphic Design by Youssef Faltas
Track 1 — Abl Fawat El Awan: Ayman Asfour (violin), Andrew Nasser (violin), Muhammad Mustafa (violin), Bassem Diaa (oud), Mo'men Zakaria (percussion), Bishoy Youssef (percussion), Fathi Kawala (kawala), and John Emad (qanun).
Track 2 — Wesh El Mayah: Ayman Asfour (violin), Andrew Nasser (violin), Mohab Hussein (viola), Bassem Diaa (oud), Mo'men Zakaria (percussion), Bishoy Youssef (percussion), and Fathi Kawala (kawala).
Track 3 — Lawla: Ayman Asfour (violin), Andrew Nasser (violin), Bassem Diaa (oud), Mo'men Zakaria (percussion), and Bishoy Youssef (percussion).
Track 4 — Rommana (co-composed with Gideon Forbes): Gideon Forbes (saxophone), Brandon Choi (trumpet), Evan Main (keyboard), Mathias Højgaard Jensen (upright bass), and Steven Crammer (drums).
Track 5 — Abu Nawatir: Ayman Asfour (violin), Insia Malik (violin), Sarah Mueller (violin), John Murchison (qanun), Gabe Lavin (oud), Gideon Forbes (nay), Alber Baseel (tabla), and Johnny Farraj (riq).
Track 6 — Masafat: Ayman Asfour (violin), Josh Farrar (electric guitar and pedals), John Murchison (double bass), Gideon Forbes (nay), Zafer Tawil (nay), and Iskander Dridi (kawala).
Sardy Fardy was produced with support from the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC).
Released July 23, 2026