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Tag: iraqi american

Episode 164 [in English]: Taüs Jafar

This episode features Ṭaüs Jafar, formerly Tamara, who was born in Troy, MI to an Iraqi-Muslim immigrant family.  Ṭaüs’ music and songwriting has played on the radio, been featured in pop songs, in the scores of feature films and TV shows, and been part of experiential design in museums and large-scale public installations. Jafar’s work and experimentation as an artist, musician, and activist eventually led them to a practice and pursuit of knowledge around healing, meditation, and dharmic studies. After two years of training to become a teacher of a non-dualist meditation practice, Jafar is called again to share their music.

Total Habibi, Ṭaüs’ solo debut single, is the result of their intellectual and creative journey to this moment.  During this podcast episode, we discussed their process of music making, their family background, their meditation practice and what led them to it, and more!  Watch for the release of Ṭaüs’ single on June 22.

https://comeheretaus.xyz/

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Episode 44 in English: Pray the Gay Away with the Zakar Twins!

We had so much fun hanging out with the Zakar twins while they were in town on tour! Zach and Michael are Iraqi-American queer activists and writers. They use their voices to bring much-needed queer Arab representation to the media! We had a wonderful conversation with them, and that same day, we loved going to see them on their tour with A Drag Queen Christmas. They’ve been touring around the U.S. with some of the RuPaul queens and promoting their book, Pray the Gay Away [https://www.zakartwins.com/pray-the-gay-away]. It meant a lot to us that they took the time out of their incredibly packed schedule to come and talk to us. We became instant family – it’s the Arab way. Look out for an Off-Broadway play of Pray the Gay Away in 2019!

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