I’ve always felt the connection between music and place quite strongly. Certain albums have a Proustian way of transporting me back to certain travels, a childhood memory or a particular walk through a city. So I was especially intrigued to read this week about two French musicians exploring that same connection in a recent album dedicated to Tripoli, one of my favorite cities and one with its own distinctive rhythm. Read on for more details about that… 

On that note, perhaps this weekend you might like to put on an album that takes you somewhere else as you pour yourself a coffee, step out of week’s madness and enjoy your breakfast in bed.

Lebanese cinema’s day in the sun

We surely all feel a pang of pride when Lebanon is recognised on the international stage for its creativity rather than its problems. This is one for us to revel in. The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival – the second largest film festival in France after Cannes – dedicated their “Panorama” series this year solely to Lebanese cinema. We have all the details of the festival and the films it is showcasing.

Nadine Labaki’s latest tour de force 

While we’re on the topic, it’s difficult to think of Lebanese cinema without having Nadine Labaki’s name come to mind. Her most recent performance in Matty Brown’s film, “The Sandcastle” has been getting rave reviews. Filmed on Rabbit Island off the coast of Tripoli, the story follows a stranded family there and centres around the themes of migrants, the displaced and children with childhoods ruined by war. 

The sound of Tripoli

From cinema to music, Triploi is the source of creative inspiration that keeps on giving. Violinist Robin Antunes and guitarist Benjamin Garson have found a creative way to capture its unique atmosphere in their latest album, or “sonic portrait” entitled “Trablos.”

A Lebanon fashion comeback 

After a six-year hiatus, Rani Zakhem, Lebanese fashion designer and a favourite of Nehmat Aoun (Joseph Aoun’s wife) is back with a splendid new collection. His designs are an exuberant blend of various influences – Rococo, Arabesque, Lesage-inspired French embroidery and the rich hues of his Nairobi upbringing. The result? Glamorous gowns straight out of my childhood dreams.

Lebanon through the lens of female photographers 

The latest addition to my ever-growing list of books to read is Georgia Makhlouf’s new book “Pays Amer” (Bitter Country). The novel follows two Lebanese female photographers a century apart, challenging the constraints of their environment. In conversation with Zena Zalzal, Makhlouf reflects on Lebanon’s collective amnesia and how writing this novel made her a feminist.

A nostalgic return to a country that never leaves you

Bruno Tabbal has worn many hats — singer, actor, director, outspoken commentator — but now, he adds novelist to the list. His debut book, “The Country from Which One Never Recovers,” is an autobiographical novel and ode to the village that shaped him. Carla Henoud paints a portrait of this “nostalgic rebel.”