Ear Expansion with Sham-e Ali Nayeem

In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton engages in a profound conversation with Sham-e Ali Nayeem, delving into the intersections of sound, poetry, and personal history. Through a reflective dialogue, Sham-e Ali shares her journey from poetry, to integrating sound into her artistic expression. This discussion further explores themes of Islamic and Sufi poetry's connection to music, the historical interweaving of sound and lyrical expression across cultures, and the deep, intricate layers of meaning and history in Sham-e Ali's albums "City of Pearls" and "Moti Ka Sheher." These works, as described, are not just artistic expressions but also deeply personal explorations of identity, exile, and the power of sound to transcend physical and temporal boundaries. The conversation encapsulates Sham-e Ali's thoughtful approach to sound as a medium for exploring grief, resistance, and the assertion of existence despite erasure.