Sanaani: Abdu B’s Brave First Step Toward a New Yemeni Sound

Abdu B - Photo by: Yousra Ishaq

For Abdu B, music has always been more than rhythm and melody — it has been a way of questioning, reimagining, and reshaping what it means to carry Yemeni culture into the future. His debut album Sanaani is not just a collection of songs; it is the summary of two years of relentless work, vision, and a deep desire to take Yemeni music to the next level.

When Abdu first began sketching ideas for Sanaani, he faced a challenge few dared to touch: how do you modernize Yemeni music without losing its soul? For years, the Yemeni music scene remained safe, rooted in tradition. Even when artists attempted to “modernize” the sound, it often meant layering old formulas with new touches, without breaking free from the past.

But Abdu took a different approach. He wanted to create something bold, something that preserved the Yemeni flavor while daring to speak the language of contemporary pop.

The experiment started with the album’s first single, “Ya La La” At first, it felt like a risk — would people accept it, or reject it as too far from tradition? The response was a surprise even to Abdu. Though not a massive hit, the track struck a chord, signaling that listeners were ready for something new. More than just a single, it became a wave — the beginning of Yemeni pop as a movement.

“This album was the start line for my style,” Abdu reflects. “It was about opening a way for Yemeni artists to be brave and express themselves in their own way.”

Abdu B - Photo by: Yousra Ishaq

A Dorm Room Dream Turned Album

What makes Sanaani even more unique is its birthplace. Abdu didn’t have a high-end studio or a big production team. He crafted the entire album inside his student dorm room in Berlin. Writing, producing, mixing, and even mastering every track himself, he proved that passion and persistence can push music across borders.

Abdu is working on his latest music project in his home studio at the student dorm.

One of the highlights of this process was “Saeed Alhadh,” the first song Abdu ever produced entirely on his own. That track, and the album as a whole, marked his transformation from a singer-songwriter into a full-fledged producer and music creator.

Why Sanaani Matters

Sanaani by Abdu B

For Abdu, Sanaani is not just his personal milestone — it’s a statement. A declaration that Yemeni artists exist, that they have stories worth telling, and that their music deserves to be heard not only by Yemenis but by the entire Arab world.

“I always asked myself,” Abdu says, “why is Yemeni music underrated? Why hasn’t it reached Moroccans, Algerians, Iraqis, or the wider Arab audience? Maybe it’s because nobody really tried to modernize Yemeni music in a way that could keep up with the world. Our folk music is beautiful, but we also need to adapt to keep our place on the map of music.”

With Sanaani, Abdu B has laid down a new path — one that blends heritage with courage, tradition with modernity. It is the first chapter of his artistic identity, and the beginning of a sound that challenges, inspires, and dares to dream.

Ghalta by Abdu B

Listen to Sanaani now and discover the start of Yemeni Pop