Tariq Al-Sabir

Tariq Al-Sabir is a composer, music director, and interdisciplinary artist based in New York City. His diverse practice includes performance, improvisation, sound design, movement, poetry, theater, and film. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Al-Sabir first gained attention, lending his voice to the 2006 theme song for HBO’s *The Wire*.

Al-Sabir has collaborated with notable artists such as Toshi Reagon, Sable Elyse Smith, Helga Davis, Meredith Monk, Ali Sethi, Blood Orange, Claire Chase, Billy Ocean, and Hilary Hahn. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist and conservatory-trained vocalist, his sound often described as "Experimental Soul" combines cinematic, electronic, pulse-driven elements with a strong connection to Black music traditions. His work often explores themes of nature, technology, spirituality, and the internet.

His multimedia song cycle #UNWANTED (2019), premiered at The Shed in NYC, features a unique ensemble and interacts with visuals created by Muse Dodd. It addresses how technology can reinforce oppressive social relations and focuses on Black people’s digital experiences.

Al-Sabir has premiered works at prestigious venues, including The Public Theater, Lincoln Center, The Shed, and MoMA. He is professor of songwriting at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. His debut EP, Unlike Yesterday Today I’m Ready, produced by Dev Hynes, was released in spring 2024.