Emad Armoush

Syrian/Canadian multi-instrumentalist musician and singer Emad Armoush has been very active in the Arabic, flamenco, world, and creative improvised music scene of Vancouver since 2000. Moving away from home in his youth, Emad has lived for extended periods of time in many countries across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. He is fluent in Arabic, Spanish, and English. In his teens, he developed a passion for learning Arabic percussion, followed soon after by learning the singing traditions. His journey from Syria to Vancouver has brought him into contact with many inspiring Arabic, Turkish, flamenco and jazz musicians and teachers, thus expanding his endeavors over the years to learning multiple instruments and performing in multiple genres. In 2002, Emad formed his own groups Rayhan and Aire Flamenco Arabic Music, which he performs with regularly at venues and music festivals. Being a multi-instrumentalist musician on the oud, ney, flamenco guitar, and a singer in the Arabic and flamenco genres, he has collaborated with many international groups such as Flamenco Flow and Flamenco de la Mission from Europe, as well as Lache Cercel’s Roma Swing Ensemble and the Orchid Ensemble from Vancouver. In 2008, Emad joined Gordon Grdina’s 10-piece avant-garde Arabic ensemble Haram as a vocalist and ney player. The band consists of some of Canada’s best improvising musicians in jazz and world music. Together, they have released their debut album, Her Eyes Illuminated, and their sophomore effort, Night's Quietest Hour, featuring guitarist Marc Ribot. Emad has since toured with the Haram ensemble, performing at Novara Jazz Festival Italy, Basel Switzerland, and Jazzahead Germany, and across Canada at the Guelph Jazz festival, Ottawa Folk festival, Calgary Folk Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, The Chan Centre, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Zula Festival Hamilton, International Folk Kansas City, Mundial Montreal, Aga Khan Museum Toronto, Sala Rosa Montreal, Victoriaville Quebec, Push Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Sunfest London, and the Harrison Festival of the Arts. Inspired to bring his roots from Arabic traditions into his current musical life and influences, and with support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Emad released his debut album Fragrance in 2021 with the members of his group Rayhan, some of Canada’s most innovative improvising musicians, bridging traditional Arabic music with free improvisation and electronics. In November 2023, his sophomore album Electritradition was released on Drip Audio label, a record of five duets highlighting original compositions. In December 2024, he released his second Rayhan group album Distilled Extractions which came out on Afterday Audio record label, melding great traditional Arabic songs, and some original compositions with the creative processes of jazz and free jazz improvisations, and with electronics.

In Feb 2026, Emad’s album “Lunar” with his most recent project, The Avant-garde Flamenco Trio, came out on Redshift Label. An album of all original music and lyrics reflecting on the human cost of war and conflict in the Middle East. His debut solo album “Reminiscing Onwards”, produced by Jesse Zubot, features all original compositions layering an array of acoustic instruments, vocals, percussions, and coloured with electronics will be released on Afterday Audio Record Label November 2026. In 2023, Emad composed and performed the music for two theatre projects. The first being The Soldiers Of Tomorrow, an important and timely play giving frank and deeply personal insight into both the occupation of Palestine and the conditions that led to the Gaza genocide. It premiered at the Push Festival in Vancouver, followed by a month run at the Summerhall Theatre for The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. In 2026, it was presented at The Cultch in Vancouver, followed by a month run at the Finborough Theatre in London, UK. For the second play, Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding, Emad worked with director Carmen Aguirre and composed the music which was presented by Studio 58 at Langara College.