Sababa 5

Formed in Tel Aviv, Sababa 5 brings together a quintet of musicians from the Israeli scene who develop instrumental music informed by Middle Eastern sonorities, psychedelic funk and 1970s Levantine pop. The group first attracted attention through a series of 45s and live sessions where very rhythmic basslines, reverb-drenched guitars and melodic motifs inspired by Yemeni and Mediterranean traditions intersect. This approach led to a self-titled debut studio album, “Sababa 5”, released in 2021 on the London label Batov Records and largely focused on instrumental compositions. While remaining centered on groove and relatively short song formats, Sababa 5 has expanded its collaborations with vocalists from the region, notably singer Shiran, who adds a more pop and narrative dimension to some tracks. On stage, Sababa 5 moves between clubs and festivals in Europe and the Middle East, adapting its pieces to contexts close to a live dance-music band, where improvisation remains present but is framed by strongly melodic writing.