Illarra Riyad

Illarra Riyad is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter who is deeply invested in folklore, traditional Arabian rhythms, and the soulfulness of Sufi music. He has been working on rearranging and reimagining those cultural songs to introduce these pieces to the local scene. Along with Peter Henry Holbrook, he founded the Hikaya project, a music project dedicated to that vision. Recently, he has explored a fusion of Arabic jazz and flamenco, blending these styles in harmony within Toronto’s diverse musical landscape. As a vocalist, he has performed on stages across the world, from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver.