Our Journey

This album, a collection of powerful poems set to music, explores the human condition and societal challenges in the Arab Mashriq. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including geographical separation and lack of funding, we’ve persevered:

• Issa Boulos (composer, poet) - based in Chicago

• Ashraf Dabbah (guitarist) - in France

• Bayan Rida (vocalist) - also in France but hours away from Ashraf

Progress Against All Odds

Despite the challenges, we’ve made significant strides:

• In 2024, Ashraf recorded the guitar tracks pro bono with a supportive sound engineer friend

• Bayan managed to record the vocals recently, also without charge

• We now have all the raw recordings ready for the final production stage

The Final Hurdle

To bring this project to fruition and make it accessible to all, we need your support for the last crucial step:

Professional mixing and mastering of the tracks

This final stage is essential to ensure the album’s quality matches the depth and importance of its message.

How You Can Help

Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly fund the professional sound engineering needed to mix and master the tracks. This will allow us to:

1. Bring all the recorded files together in a professional studio

2. Pay a skilled sound engineer for their expertise

3. Produce a polished, high-quality album that does justice to the poetry and music

Why This Matters

“The Dark Side of the Moon” is more than just an album. It’s a powerful artistic statement that uses poetry and music to illuminate the challenges facing the Arab Mashriq. By supporting this project, you’re helping to:

• Amplify essential voices and perspectives

• Bridge cultures through art

• Contribute to meaningful dialogue about our shared human experience

Join Us in Making This Dream a Reality

Every donation brings us closer to sharing this important work with the world. Thank you for believing in the power of art to inspire, challenge, and connect us all.

Let’s bring “The Dark Side of the Moon” into the light together.