“StudentLoan” blends with Arabic beats

StudentLoan, an American bluegrass band, synced with Yemeni drums, the mizmar flute, and the deep, soulful voice of Shrooq, a famous female Yemeni singer, for a live performance at the Sana’a Cultural Center last Sunday. 

The band played traditional bluegrass songs such as Orange Blossom Special, and then fused with classical Arabic music. When asked if blending the two seemingly contrasting genres, Liz Chibucos, fiddler/guitarist/pianist, said, “When we met, we just played. It worked instantly. We were worried, but it turned out great.”

This is the first time for the band members to visit Yemen. “Everyone is so hospitable. The audience was loud, and that’s what we love!” the band explained when asked about their experience in Yemen.

StudentLoan is a band composed of Mark Gerolami, Chad Kimbler, Liz Chibucos, and Taylor Bergren-Chrisman, American musicians. They originally met in Ohio at college, where they were all music majors. “We started this band, not realizing that it would come to this, these tours and visiting the world,” said band member, Gerolami. They currently have 2 albums out and will also be visiting Italy, Cyprus and Algeria on their present tour.

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