Staerna is a new acoustic quartet scattered across the Northern Hemisphere. Two worlds collide: Arabic folk songs are artfully sewn together with traditional Scandinavian melodies. Staerna has been inspired by the striking similarities between these two musical traditions, once separated by an entire continent. They dedicate their diverse identities to harmonizing what is shared, and elevating what is unique. Like the sterna - the bird that migrates the furthest distance of all - the music of Staerna travels from its birthplace to a new home where it can take new life.

Staerna is fronted by two powerhouse vocalists: the warm and ornamented tone of Nemat Battah, a Palestinian-Jordanian singer, beside the sharp and cool vocal style of Isa Holmgren, from Sweden. The music shows compelling solos from them both, and it is raised to a climax by the beautiful, pervasive sound of Isa and Nemat singing together. Guitarist Hampus Grönberg of Sweden, and double bassist Robert Alan Mackie of Canada are the energetic back-line. Driven by Celtic and American folk music, they bring the group from quiet comfort all the way to last-chance-dance-party and back.