Order Ventanas' new album and preorder the vinyl - AZADI

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Azadi means “Freedom” in Urdu and Farsi. This album reflects on the diverse freedoms humanity experiences or longs for—the freedom to sing, dance, express our many identities and be accepted for them. The freedom to be ourselves, speak our languages, compose, perform, work, and collaborate—or choose not to. To celebrate or refrain, engage in public or political life, fall in or out of love, marry or not, have children or not, and live on the land, especially our ancestral lands. It is about accepting each other. Together, we navigate this life and this world, and together, we must help one another be free.

This is Ventanas' fourth album and their first in five years. It features traditional Flamenco, Sephardic, and Balkan songs, alongside original compositions by Ventanas' members, three of which debuted with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra in 2022. The album includes songs in Spanish, Ladino, French, English, Urdu, Hebrew, Greek, Portuguese, and Bulgarian. It is produced by Tyler Emond, mastered by Justin Gray, and distributed globally by LulaWorld Records.

ABOUT VENTANAS

Tamar Ilana & Ventanas is a Toronto-based band that performs both original and traditional songs in over 20 languages. Their music weaves through fiery Flamenco dance and rhythms, Greek, Turkish, and Sephardic love songs, lively Bulgarian dance tunes, and lyrical original compositions. They lead audiences on a captivating journey through different lands, times, and cultures. Tamar Ilana’s powerful vocals, shaped by a lifetime of international performances, stir deep emotions. The group’s dynamic sound features the intensity of Flamenco guitar and dance, the pulse of Middle Eastern darbuka, the soulful resonance of Greek oud and baglama, the haunting tones of classical violin and contrabass, and the flair of jazz improvisation—creating an unforgettable show filled with music, dance, and inspiration.

ABOUT TAMAR ILANA

Tamar Ilana is of Ashkenazi Jewish, Pasqua First Nation (Treaty 4), Scottish, and Roma-Romanian descent. She grew up performing and traveling with her mother, ethnomusicologist Dr. Judith Cohen, which profoundly shaped her life and career.

QUOTES

“The Sound of Toronto”

- Amirali Alibhai, Head of Performing Arts, The Aga Khan Museum, Toronto

"Anywhere in the world, this act would entertain."

- Huffington Post, LA

"Tamar's generosity of spirit and mastery of her music created a wave of infectious, unstoppable momentum on stage. Tamar empowered all the musicians around her to take chances and to elevate the performance. I felt lucky to be one of those musicians. Tamar’s command of her voice and deep understanding of the songs challenged me to find my own truth in the music. I still draw from that experience as a reminder of how sharing music with an open heart can bring so much hope. Tamar was the catalyst for that hope."- Jim Creeggan, the Barenaked Ladies

"Tamar has a power in her performance that is completely joyful and transportive. Her singing and dancing are deeply naturalistic and she’s transfixed me with her capacity to unravel a song. I’m a huge admirer."

- Leslie Feist

"Tamar has spent a lifetime mastering beautiful vocal traditions from around the world, only to arrive at a sound that is uniquely her own. She transcends genre, geography, and language. She is Canada’s own pan-global diva."

- Jesse Cook

"Tamar Ilana & Ventanas could go head to head with any punk band."- Errol Nazareth, CBC Radio One Big City Small World

“Tamar’s honeyed vocals” – New York Music Daily

“Tamar Ilana’s potent, vibrato-drenched vocals” – Downbeat Magazine

“Ilana is an excellent singer” - fRoots