Rana Khoury is a voice from Haifa, shaped by the shores of the Mediterranean. Her music draws deep inspiration from the cities that line this sea, weaving together the cultural richness of the Arab world with contemporary Western influences.

Rana’s artistic journey is rooted in a deep reverence for Arabic music—its poetry, its pain, its forgotten melodies. With each song, she seeks to uncover hidden gems from the Arab world’s musical legacy, breathing new life into them through her own interpretation.

Together with her life partner and musical collaborator, Darwish Darwish, a composer, arranger, and master of the oud, buzuk, and violin, they sail through the musical landscapes of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and beyond. From their home in Haifa, they explore and reinterpret songs passed down through generations, guided by a shared passion for preserving tradition while daring to transform it.

“I consecrate the original composition,” Rana reflects. “But I believe songs don’t close doors, they open new spaces for our work.”

Their creative partnership gave birth to Junoon, meaning “madness” or “passion” in Arabic, a band formed not only of melodies and rhythms, but of a bold vision: to reshape the way Arabic music is heard, felt, and understood.

Rana sees the Mediterranean not merely as a body of water, but as a living archive of human emotion and connection.

“We share this geography,” she says. “Wherever we are, we extend toward the gates that open to the world, coastal cities where longing was born. Longing for a land, for a lover. These cities carry the spirit of travel, transformation, and renewal.”

Her voice sails between these cities, echoing their stories, carrying their spirit.

A graduate of Musicology from Haifa University, Rana first met Darwish during her studies. His deep musicality, recognized internationally with a first prize at the Oud Competition in Cairo’s Opera House, became the foundation of their shared sound. Since then, the duo has performed in numerous festivals and musical projects, always returning to the sea for new inspiration.

From their shore city of Haifa to audiences around the world, Rana and Darwish continue to navigate the seas of memory, both Arab and universal, searching for songs that resonate, awaken, and transform.