- Concert
Dana Salah in Concert
Having been born and raised in the Middle East, and living a significant amount of her adult life in the US, Dana constantly challenged what it meant to be an Arab female artist who was making music that represented her authentic self as opposed to the stereotypical expectations of Arab female artists. Against the odds, when Dana moved to the U.S. for college, and upon graduating, she turned to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, and started making music, DJ’ing and founded her artistry as King Deco.
About
Growing up in Amman, Jordan, Dana Salah spent her afternoons watching vintage black-and-white broadcasts of Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez beside her grandmother. Those golden-era telecasts, where strings and voices conversed like old friends, planted the seed for what would become her signature sound: Fala7i Pop, a bold fusion of vintage Arab soul and global pop edge, blending reggaeton beats, Palestinian folklore, ear-catching melodies, and classic Arabic instruments that call and respond to one another in dialogue. After earning dual degrees in Economics and Theater from Duke University, Dana moved to New York, where under the name King Deco, she topped Billboard’s Dance charts and amassed tens of millions of streams. Years later, a quiet pull brought her home to her language, her lineage, and the Arab woman’s story. Now hailed as one of the region’s most distinct voices, Dana bridges past and present through songs like Weino, Ya Tal3een, Ghazaleh, Dori Dorak, and Bent Bladak – each reclaiming heritage through lush strings, tabla rhythms, and sharp modern wit. Named Spotify’s EQUAL Arabia Ambassador, featured on a Times Square billboard, and nominated Best Indie Artist by Billboard Arabia in 2024, she’s performed on world stages from The Barbican to Estrel and Paradiso, solidifying her place as a pioneer of the new Arab sound, one that’s timeless, boundary-breaking, and deeply her own.
Speakers
Dana Salah
Singer
