For Mohammed Aref, Mo & The Habibs began with a friendship. ‘Habibs’ comes from the Arabic ‘habib’, a term of endearment meaning ‘beloved’ or ‘darling’. The queer Palestinian musician and artist lives in Amsterdam, where he met Sjerp: a Jewish-Dutch bassist who became one of his best friends. Together, they made Mohammed’s dream of starting a band a reality.With Mo & The Habibs, he performs songs he has written himself, blending Arab and Western musical traditions. Pop and rock feature alongside maqam, the melodic tradition of Arab music, and klezmer, the festive and dance music of Ashkenazi Jews. The lyrics draw on Mohammed’s experiences as a queer Palestinian in Amsterdam and the life he is building here.