Aliya and the New Andalus Information

"A voice like an angel and magnificent Oud playing. Aliya is a maestra of melodies, which shows in her singing, playing, and songwriting.” – Ben Woods “Cycon’s [oud] sometimes projects a palpable effervescence, other times an incisive ambiguity.” –DownBeat Magazine Founded in Southern Spain by Oud player and singer Aliya Cycon, Aliya & the New Andalus fuses Flamenco rhythms, Arabic scales and Western Pop harmonies into a flavorful world that leaves catchy melodies in the ear and inspiration in the soul. LONG BIO: Talented young Oud player, singer and composer Aliya Cycon grew up in the U.S., but her music suggests otherwise. Her new band, Aliya & The New Andalus, is captivating Mediterranean music lovers with catchy and evocative songs she sings in her native English, while mixing Arabic, Spanish and Ladino lyrics and showcasing her virtuosic Oud playing. The cross-cultural compositions mix the influences from her American upbringing with eclectic Arabic, Andalusian, and North African styles which she has studied intensively for over 8 years. The songs transmit her love for travel, social change and God. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2016, Aliya has performed at the Nobel Business For Peace Awards in Oslo, Norway, and has toured internationally as a “Cultural Ambassador” for the US State Department, selling out a 1,000-seat amphitheater in Jordan in 2018, and continuously performing across Tunisia in festivals, ancient ruins, public schools, and at the home of the US Ambassador. With AATNA, Aliya is attracting a spirited and devoted following across the Mediterranean and the Middle East through memorable live performances and a strong social media presence. Aliya was the first female Oud player to earn a Bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a Master's degree from Berklee Valencia. Her and her band are now based in Valencia, Spain.