JAMILA & THE OTHER HEROES’ “LAYLA ليلى”, meaning “night” in Arabic, captures the sleepless nights of anxiety, fear, and solidarity during the Gaza war.
The melody first came to Jamila Al-Yousef during a jam session in Amman, Jordan, in spring 2023—a city deeply tied to her Palestinian roots. While there, she lost her uncle Samir, the head of her family, and the melody felt like a form of solace. It resurfaced months later in Ramallah, where music became a way to process the violence. One night, as they played on a rooftop, a rocket flew overhead toward Gaza, a stark reminder of their fragile safety.
JAMILA & THE OTHER HEROES is a Berlin-based band blending psychedelic desert rock with socially engaged storytelling. Founded by Jamila Al-Yousef—who named the band after her Palestinian grandmother—their music reflects themes of diaspora, resistance, and empowerment. Born in Berlin on the day the Wall fell, Jamila infuses her work with both the revolutionary energy of that moment and her Palestinian heritage, creating music that resonates across cultures.
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