Project Description
Curent Status: In development phase
The Dissonant Union Experiment originated as a group of musicians improvising an original score for the short documentary "Maram: Between Shadow & Light," which tells the powerful story of Maram, a young Syrian refugee woman, and her journey through hardship and resilience. Inspired by the project's impact and creative energy, the team decided to expand their vision, transforming their work into a dynamic live experience.
Combining improvisational music, lighting effects, visuals, and poetry, the Maram Collective now seeks to use its art as a platform for activism. Their performances aim to shed light on pressing social and environmental issues, offering a unique and engaging way to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations.
The concept centers on identifying pressing issues that resonate with the musicians and deserve greater attention. These topics will be explored through the creation of compelling visuals, including short documentaries, interview sound bites, and evocative video art. The collective will then perform live improvisational music at a venue, engaging with an audience in an immersive experience.
Each performance will be enriched with poetry and spoken word pieces that deepen the focus on the chosen topic. To further involve the creative community, a call for submissions will be issued ahead of each event, inviting local filmmakers to produce media content inspired by the theme. Selected short films will be screened as an integral part of the performance, fostering a collaborative platform for raising awareness and sparking dialogue.
Project Co-Directors
Samer Beyhum
Filmmaker, BFC Co-Director & Co-Founder, Lead Instructor
An award-winning Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker, director, sound engineer, editor, educator, and vegan chef whose work is deeply rooted in creating socially impactful content. As a co-founder of the Beirut Film Center (BFC), Samer has dedicated himself to empowering youth through film education, providing tools and opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to tell their stories and address pressing societal issues.
Samer's commitment to advocating for human rights and social justice is evident through his initiatives. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Children’s Rights Festival, a platform amplifying the voices of marginalized children and raising awareness about their rights through the powerful medium of cinema.
Similarly, his work with 99Media, which he co-founded in Canada, aligns with his belief in using art as a catalyst for change, championing stories that challenge societal norms and spark meaningful conversations. With decades of experience in post-production as an editor, colorist, sound designer, and workflow consultant, as well as expertise in live and recorded sound engineering, Samer’s technical skill set complements his creative vision and leadership. His projects often highlight underrepresented voices, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ issues, refugee experiences, and gender equality, reflecting his unwavering dedication to advancing the human condition.
Beyond the realm of filmmaking, Samer is also a passionate vegan chef. He incorporates sustainability and compassion into his culinary creations, blending traditional Levantine flavors with a modern plant-based approach. This dedication to ethical living further reflects his holistic commitment to a better world. A true initiator of socially relevant projects, Samer’s work bridges education, activism, and artistic innovation. From founding his own film school to inspiring the next generation of storytellers, he continues to use his art and passions to shine a light on the challenges and triumphs of humanity, ensuring that stories of resilience and hope reach audiences worldwide.
Yal Solan
BFC Co-Founder, Singer, Poet, Multidisciplinary Artist
Yal Solan (Vocals, Didgeridoo) is a Lebanese singer, poet and multidisciplinary artist who blends her poetry with her oriental roots, occidental influences and mystical inspirations. By marrying ethereal vocals and oriental sounds, she is carving her signature sound within the wide spectrum of soul, fusion and world music. Yal initially gained recognition in the Arab world for singing "Chou Original", the theme song of the series Salon Zahra, in collaboration with artist, composer and producer Mike Massy in September 2021.
Since March 2022, Yal began releasing original music with her debut single "Silent Fireworks”, coined an "ethereal tour de force" by SceneNoise. Yal then formed her ensemble band, elevating her music to the stages of the most prominent artistic and cultural events, such as the international Sofar Sounds, Institut Français’ Fête de la Musique 2x, Raseef22’s media forum, and Metro Al Madina’s Tazaj. In July 2023, Yal was one of 10 selected artists by Beirut & Beyond, where she got her hit single “La7ali”, to be arranged & produced in collaboration with composer and producer Bachar Mar-Khalife’s Paris-based label Balcoon.
Yal was also one of 10 selected soul-pop vocalists in the MENA region for MDLBEAST’s Xperform in October 2023, and as a result, had her debut international performance in Riyadh at the XP Music Futures conference in December 2023.
Apart from music, Yal is an animator and graphic designer for NGOs, a fashion model, commercial actress, voice over artist, and dedicated yogi, absorbing the embodiment from her practices that shape and inspire her distinctive presence.
Current Contributing Artists
Jessy Bou Malhab
Violinist
A seasoned violinist, performer, and instructor with over 20 years of experience. Since 2004, she has worked as a freelance artist, captivating audiences at concerts, weddings, and events across the Middle East, including performances in Jordan, Egypt, Dubai, and Iraq. Jessy has collaborated with distinguished ensembles and bands, such as 8eme Art, Cats Production, Bob Weddings, Yal Solan’s Band (Soul Fusion Music), and Mikaella Stephan’s Band.
A co-founder of the Bach Music Institute, she served as its CEO and taught violin from 2013 to 2024. Formally trained at The Lebanese National Conservatoire of Music, Jessy also refined her modern violin skills under Alex DePue, Steve Vai's principal violinist. Her repertoire spans Blues, Funk, Rock, and Commercial Music, enriched by her signature oriental flair. Guided by heartfelt expression, Jessy believes in music’s universal power to connect with audiences on a deeper level.
Hanna Yazbeck
Drummer, Percussionist
A Lebanese writer, actor and musician. His poetry has been published many times in THE POETRYHOOD MAGAZINE and once in AL-NAHAR. He is currently working on his debut play “Black Shoe”. His writing is daring and unconventional, aiming to deconstruct the status quo.
He has pursued studies in both Theater and English Literature at the Lebanese University and studied music theory at USEK. He has participated in many senior theatre and film projects as an actor, voice actor and Assistant Director. Hanna is also a professional drummer since 2014. He has taught in a few local music schools and plays with many music groups such as Metro Al-Madina, TAXI404 and YalSolan.
Lea el Hachem
Bassist, Industrial Engineering student
A passionate bassist who discovered her love for the instrument as a teenager, during the lockdown. What began as a personal outlet quickly evolved into a deep musical journey, leading her to perform with bands across Lebanon. Lea has played a wide range of genres, including indie, metal, soul, blues, oriental, jazz, and hip-hop, seamlessly blending Eastern and Western musical elements.
She has collaborated with artists like Yal Solan, Anis El Cortbawi, and Paolo Kasbani, and in 2021, she was part of a weekly televised show on LBC, sharing the stage with renowned Levantine artists such as Hussein El Deek, Rabih Gemayel, and Mohammad Iskandar. From lively festivals to intimate bars, Lea’s basslines have brought life to countless performances.
Above all, Lea enjoys the process of growing, learning, and improvising, always seeking to connect with the music and the people around her.
Carol Ohair
Multi Instrumentalist, Social & Political Psychologist
Carol Ohair uses words, music and politics to tell a story and provoke an emotion. She started off as a genre-inclusive, laptop DJ back in 2011, who loves to flirt through her music. Carol enjoys mixing different energies in sounds to sway between soulful electronic elements and dark techno grooves filled with fat basses. She often improvises depending on the energy she gets from the audience.
In 2018, Carol started producing her own music to transform her poetry into musical pieces, and to experiment with music cognition and soundbending, and the relationship between experiential music and communities. Since then she has been training to expand her sets into hybrid performances showcasing her original work and her political inclination to spark solidarity among different communities.
As a social and political psychologist, Carol experiments with tension and release with her listeners as a form of performative storytelling. As a producer, Carol is a genre-bender, creating musical pieces containing hybrid combinations of styles to tell different narratives and bend different boundaries with a nostalgic hint. Carol Ohair is also a sound designer and music composer for plays, choreographed dances and other theater or performance-related installations or projects.
