Arabic Music

Arabic music has been weaving its intricate melodies and rhythms since ancient times, often attributing its roots to the Arab world as early as the 6th century. With its use of the maqam system, it sounds like a dreamier version of a pop song—if pop songs occasionally had a sudden existential crisis about love and longing. It’s also worth noting that the genre's diverse styles—from lively folk dances to the haunting strains of the oud—have resulted in enough subgenres to keep historians guessing until the end of time.