Emad Armoush's music has been described as "haunting but authoritative, melancholic but inviting". He maintains the authenticity and essence of traditional Syrian songs while allowing for modern, experimental interpretations. His work is praised for its seamless blend of different musical worlds, creating a unique sound that is both earthy and otherworldly.
Syrian/Canadian multi-instrumentalist musician and singer Emad Armoush has been very active in the Arabic, flamenco, world and the creative improv music scene of Vancouver since 2000. Emad had moved away from home since his youth, and has lived for extended periods of time in many countries in the Middle East, Europe, and North America, and is fluent in Arabic, Spanish and English. In his teens, he developed the passion for learning traditional Arabic percussion and soon after the singing, but his journey from Syria to Vancouver has brought him into contact with many inspiring Arabic, Flamenco, Turkish and Jazz musicians and teachers, thus expanding his endeavors over the years to learning multiple instruments and performing in these genres.
In 2002, Emad formed his own groups “Rayhan” and “Aire Flamenco Arabic Music” and performs with them 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 music genres, he has collaborated with many international and local groups such as “Flamenco Flow” and Flamenco de la Mission” from Europe, the “Lache Cercel’s Roma Swing Ensemble” and the “Orchid Ensemble” from Vancouver.
In 2008, Emad joined Gordon Grdina 10-piece Arabic – Avant-Garde Ensemble “HARAM” as a vocalist and Ney player. The band consists of some of Canada’s best Jazz and World musicians and improvisers. Together, they have released their debut album “Her Eyes Illuminated” and their Sophomore “ Night's Quietest Hour” featuring guitarist Marc Ribot.
Emad has been touring with “Haram” since, and have performed at Novara Jazz Festival Italy, Basil Switzerland, Guelph jazz festival, Ottawa Folk festival, Calgary Folk Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Zula Festival Hamilton, International Folk Kansas City, Mundial Montreal, Aga Khan Museum Toronto, Sala Rosa Montreal, Victoria Ville Quebec, Push Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Harrison Festival of the Art, SUNFEST London Ontario, Jazzahead in Bremen, Germany.
Inspired to bring his roots from Arabic traditions into his current musical life and influences, and thank you to the support of 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 finest innovative musicians, bridging traditional Arabic music with free improv. and with electronics. In November of 2023, his sophomore album Electritradition was released on Drip Audio label, a record of 5 duos 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 at Drip Audio and features original compositions layering vocals with an array of acoustic instruments, percussions, and coloured with electronics, is completed and will release soon.
In 2023 Emad composed and performed the music of two theatre projects. “The Soldiers Of Tomorrow", an important and timely play giving frank and deeply personal insight to the occupation of Palestine, and the conditions that led to the Gaza genocide. “The Soldiers Of Tomorrow” premiered at the Push festival in Vancouver. Then a month run at the Summerhall theatre for The Fring Festival in Edinburgh. We will be presenting the play in 2026 at the Cultch in Vancouver and 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.
Emad has performed in many theaters in Paris as a Flamenco singer and guitarist . He has appeared and recorded with his groups, and in collaborations on CBC Radio, Zed TV, Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver Jazz festival, Vancouver International Flamenco Festival, Victoria Flamenco Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Harmony Art Festival, Asian Heritage Month Festival, Mondo Music, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, The Showcase of Global Discoveries, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, Arab Culture Day.