“Brooklyn-based quintet Habibi formed in the spring of 2011 by Detroit-native Rahill Jamalifard and Lenaya Lynch, who bonded over their love of Middle Eastern psych music. Tapping into their Motown roots of simple but infectious pop melodies delivered with punkish attitude, the two recruited Erin Campbell (guitar/bass) and Karen Isabel (drums), and the band were quick to receive critical accolades, with their self-titled Burger Records debut heralded by The New Yorker as “stunning.”

“I see you walkin’, walkin’ down Woodward / tryin’ to catch a ride,” Jamalifard sings in live favorite “Detroit Baby,” a reference to an avenue in the Detroit of their youth that could similarly apply to the place in Ridgewood, New York where she currently resides, or any other street in America or across the globe. Habibi have proven to be capable of showcasing authentically crafted music that is both uniquely its own yet able to traverse borders in its overarching appeal. This ethos is clear even in the band’s chosen name: “Habibi” translated to English means “my love”-a universal language that makes them easy to embrace.”