Alsarah & The Nubatones — Mawasim Altariq – Seasons of the Road (self-release, 2025)
Alsarah & The Nubatones have unveiled their third studio album, Seasons of the Road, an independent project more than five years in the making. Notably, for the first time, the band incorporates English lyrics.
The album’s development began in Beirut in late 2018, during a residency at Station, before moving to Sudan, where the band filmed the music video for “Men Ana,” a striking tribute to the Sudanese revolution. Later, upon return to New York City, the band witnessed global upheavals derived from COVID-19 lockdown. As time passed, the compelling and immersive Sudanese folk-rooted retro-pop, ne-soul and world fusion songs became reflections of shifting stories: revolutions, wars, and personal transformation.
Formed through conversations between Alsarah and percussionist Rami El Aasser, The Nubatones explore themes of migration, identity, and Nubian musical heritage. Their sound, dubbed “East-African Retro-Pop,” mixes pentatonic melodies with influences from Sudan, Egypt, and beyond. The lineup includes Armenian-American oud player Haig Manoukian (later succeeded by Brandon Terzic) and French-Togolese bassist Mawuena Kodjovi.
Sudanese-born and Brooklyn-based, Alsarah is a singer, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist. She has led the band through two acclaimed albums, Silt (2014) and Manara (2016), both released on Wonderwheel Recordings and later remixed by prominent electronic music producers. She has also collaborated with Débruit on Aljawal (2013) and contributed to The Nile Project’s Aswan (2014), earning recognition from National Public Radio (NPR).
Since their debut in 2011, Alsarah & The Nubatones have performed at major festivals, including Glastonbury, Roskilde, WOMAD, and SXSW.
Buy Seasons of the Road.
Author: Madison Quinn
