Photos and Review by Emily Gringorten
@emgringo

Elyanna, the Palestinian-Chilean artist making waves in the Arabic music scene, brought her Woledto Tour to Oakland on November 17th, 2024. After a compelling debut at Outside Lands earlier this year, the Fox Theater was packed with adoring fans of all ages, eager to witness this magic again. Her lively dance troupe, intricate choreography, and powerful vocals combined to create a truly captivating experience.

Preceded by chants of “Free Palestine,” Elyanna and her dancers took the stage around 9:15 PM, after high-energy opening sets by Fairdose and her DJ, Zeemuffin. Dressed in a metallic white dress and silver belt, Elyanna dazzled as she danced through “Al Sham” and “Yalla Ya,” her striking blonde curls flying through the air.

Elyanna’s debut album Woledto (or “I Am Born”), released this past April, blends elements of Arab pop, jazz, R&B, and EDM. Her goal as an artist is to elevate Middle Eastern culture while transcending musical boundaries. She took time during the show to make a few statements about the events in the Middle East and shared her heartfelt desire for peace and unity. Raised in Nazareth, Elyanna takes great care to involve her heritage in everything she does. Her ability to create such a strong sense of community at her shows, even when performing far from home, is remarkable.

The setlist comprised songs from Woledto, singles, and covers, including her collaboration “WE PRAY” with Coldplay, Little Zimz, Burna Boy, and TINI. Other highlights included “Sokkar,” “Mama Eh,” and “Olive Branch,” where she was joined onstage by Fairdose. The 18-song show concluded with “Ganeni.”

Every aspect of the show was thoughtfully planned and choreographed to a T. Accompanied by four backup dancers, a guitarist, and a videographer (whose feed was projected on a curtain behind her), Elyanna effortlessly danced through the entire show, all while delivering stellar vocals. I left with an amazing impression of the singer, a feeling similar to the one I had after watching global superstar Rosalía perform back in 2022.

Elyanna made history earlier this year as the first act to sing in Arabic at Coachella, and since then, she’s captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Her star power is palpable, and the night was a reminder that Elyanna is not just an artist on the rise but a voice with the potential to shape the future of global pop music.