About

— Pressed on 12" standard black vinyl.
— Includes an extensive booklet featuring detailed liner notes chronicling Ara’s life and music.
— Rare and exclusive photographs from the archives.

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Our upcoming 33rd release focuses on one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from Beirut’s Armenian community: Ara Kekedjian. We started being interested in Armenian music from Beirut many years ago, after seeing the records pop up in shops and markets, and DJs like Ernesto Chahoud playing them at parties. From the get go Ara Kekedjian was our favorite. From his infectious arrangements, his catchy melody lines to his dapper looks: Born in 1946 in Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon, Ara became a central figure in the Armenian pop scene of the 1960s and 70s. With his mix of Armenian rhythms, hard-hitting drums, funky guitars, and charismatic stage presence, he carved out a bold sound in Estradayin (Armenian) pop rock.

In the 1970s, the Beirut suburb Bourj Hammoud became a hub of creativity and it was home to countless labels, record shops, and venues. Among this vibrant scene, Ara’s records stand out for their energy and inventiveness. Unlike many classically trained singers of his generation, Ara’s delivery was new and playful. Tracks like Seta Seta and Ghapama showcase his talent for turning familiar melodies into driving, dance-floor grooves. His performances across Beirut and the region often electrifying crowds with theatrical guitar and organ solos cemented his reputation as a showman and innovator.

Compiled by Habibi Funk in collaboration with Darone Sassounian of Rocky Hill Records (who first introduced many to Armenian sounds with his Silk Road compilation). Thanks to the support of Ara’s extended family in Lebanon and Los Angeles, the album is fully licensed, with all profits split 50/50 with his estate. — (via Label)

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Bourj Hammoud Groove tells the story of a second generation Armenian migrant in Beirut finding his own voice through bold experimentation. After the Armenian Genocide of 1915, Beirut, specifically the shantytown of Bourj Hammoud, became the de facto cultural hub for the Armenian music scene, as what remained of Armenia was fully controlled by the USSR. Within this community, Ara Kekedjian developed a sound that had never been heard before blending his Armenian roots with rock and roll, soul, and psychedelic pop.

Kekedjian’s accolades include: first singer to be broadcast performing in the Armenian-language on Lebanese National TV; first to produce a record in Armenian in Lebanon; originator of a style of Estradayin (Armenian) pop rock that blended “Kef Time” (“Party Time” in Armenian) with electric keyboards and derbakka (goblet drum). Kekedjian influenced and paved the way for generations of Armenian artists with his fusion of Armenian rhythms and grooves with Western and Arabic influences including the legendary Armenian musician Boghos Shahmelikian, who said that Ara was the reason he became a musician and that, “Myself and the rest of the Armenian musicians from Bourj Hammoud owed it all to Ara Kekedjian.”

 — (via In Sheep's Clothing)

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Label: Habibi Funk
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Released: 2025
Genre: Rock, Pop, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Garage Rock

File under: Global Sounds
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