Elana Sasson’s latest single, “Laye Laye,” featuring French cellist Matthieu Saglio, is a reimagining of a traditional Kurdish lullaby. Released on March 21, 2025, it serves as the final preview of her debut album, In Between, arriving April 18.
Sung in Kurdish, “Laye Laye” conveys themes of love, devotion, and resilience, with poetic lyrics evoking hope in the face of darkness. Sasson’s vocals appear accompanied by cello, contrabass, and Fender Rhodes, mixing Eastern musical traditions with contemporary music. Saglio’s expressive cello work, spanning western classical, jazz, and world music, adds depth to this song.
A vocalist, composer, and bandleader, Sasson crafts music at the crossroads of Kurdish and Persian traditions, jazz, and Mediterranean folk. Her work explores identity and duality, integrating modal melodies, rich harmonies, and diverse instrumentation. Influenced by years of study with master musicians from Iran and Kurdistan, as well as her training at Berklee College of Music, she brings together tradition with modern expression. Her previous album was Golestan.
Musicians: Elana Sasson on vocals; Matthieu Saglio on cello; Manos Stratis on double bass; Santiago Bertel on Fender Rhodes.
Produced by Elana Sasson and Santiago Bertel
Recorded by Shayan Fathi and Diego Roman at Camaleón Studio, Madrid
Mixed and mastered by Shayan Fathi.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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