Sariyah Idan

Jazz & folk trained, hip-hop & soul educated and influenced by the music of her Jewish roots, Sariyah Idan (Pronounced: Sah-ree-yah Ee-dahn) is an internationally touring vocalist, songwriter and actor originally from New York and currently based in Los Angeles. Fusicology reviewed the release of her debut solo EP in December 2014 as “powerful, soulful, spirited songs filled with stories of joy, struggle, love and social justice”. She considers her work akin to Nneka, Amy Winehouse and M.I.A. and takes inspiration from artists ranging from Marvin Gaye to Suzanne Vega, Wu-Tang to Yasmin Levy, Balkan Beat Box to Manu Chao.

Sariyah has shared stages with Pete Seeger, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Yusef Lateef as well as recordings with Marcia Griffiths and Caron Wheeler on Dubblstandat’s album Woman In Dub. She has been interviewed and played on radio stations WBAI, KPFK, KPFA, KXLU and ORF Radio FM4 in Vienna.

Currently based in Los Angeles, she holds two monthly residencies, Fourth Saturdays at Karma Lounge in Koreatown, Acoustic Second Mondays at the Thirsty Crow Bar in Silverlake.

Also well known as an actor and playwright for her solo theater show Homeless In Homeland –documenting a young radical Jewish-American woman’s struggle to understand her identity, her family and the meaning of home through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict– Sariyah continues to be an advocate for human rights, justice and equal access to self determination.