The concert carried a sense of poetic symmetry. “That moment changed me and my music forever,” Cycon reflected before the show, recalling how her first performance at ‘La Batisfera’ coincided with the beginning of her motherhood journey. This return, she explained, was not just a concert but a milestone of transformation—an affirmation of balance between motherhood and artistic rebirth.

During her two-year hiatus from touring, Cycon quietly nurtured her artistry through her Patreon community for oud players, monthly online workshops, and, most recently, her Valencia Oud Retreat held this September, which drew musicians from Iraq, Jordan, Germany, the USA, Lebanon, and Belgium. It was, in fact, an impromptu concert at that retreat that prompted La Batisfera to invite her back for this performance—an invitation she accepted as a sign that “the right moment had arrived.”

Cycon was joined by an impressive international ensemble, a true reflection of her “global jazz” ethos:

• Jean Madani (Lebanon) – bass

• Hussein al-Rob (Palestine) – percussion

Special Guests:

• Timotej Kotnik (Slovenia) – trumpet

• Omran Adrah (Syria) – qanun

• Lili del Sol (Colombia) – voice

The diverse lineup added layers of cross-cultural resonance to Cycon’s compositions, blending Arabic, jazz, and Latin influences with soulful improvisation.

From the opening number “Heartbeat”, the audience was drawn into Cycon’s signature blend of meditative oud tones and heartfelt vocal melodies. The mood oscillated between introspective and celebratory, each piece revealing another side of her evolving sound. Highlights included the memorable “Nothing Like This” and a moving “Valencia” (composed by Madani) , both featuring Timotej Kotnik’s lyrical ‘cool jazz’ trumpet playing—his tone tenderly intertwined with Cycon’s oud in a conversation that spoke of shared life and love. Colombian singer Lili del Sol joined for a luminous rendition of “Gracias a la Vida”, bringing warmth and gratitude to the room with a voice that seems to comes from another time, while Syrian qanun virtuoso Omran Adrah elevated “Monte de Sinai” and the “Fog el Nakhali/Il Bulbul/Qaduka al-Mayyas” medley with crystalline textures and flowing ornamentation. The set culminated in “Convivencia”, an original piece celebrating coexistence, before an encore that felt both traditional and transcendent: “Bint al Shalabiya”, featuring Adrah once more on qanun, echoing through La Batisfera’s intimate space as if summoning generations of shared musical heritage.

Cycon’s performance was more than a concert—it was a testimony to artistic rebirth, to the merging of motherhood and musicianship, and to the creative power that emerges when an artist allows time for transformation. Her voice was warm and assured, her oud playing intricate yet grounded, and her interactions with her band radiated joy and gratitude.

The Lebanse bassist Jean Madani generously anchored the songs & together with the Palestinian’s darbuka & frame drum…they provided a supple groove throughout the concert. The Syrian musician’s qanun added Middle Eastern mystery to the songs and Timotej’s clear trumpet lines added vital colours to the set too,

As the final notes faded, the audience rose in loud applause—not only for the music but for the story it carried: that of an artist returning home to herself, her instrument, and her community. A night to remember. Thank you to the good people of ‘La Batisfera’ for making this special concert possible. What a band!