Omani singer and oud player Mohammed Al-Amri believes that music in all its manifestations is magical, but that people resonate better with certain instruments and styles. For his part, it was love at first embrace when he met the oud. ‘You could say that it’s the only instrument you can hug,’ he says. ‘Because of its rounded shape, you can always feel it when you play and the music connects with your heart and vice versa; this means that the stronger your emotions, the better you will play. Sometimes I can’t express my feelings in words, but I can put them across through music.’ Mohammed’s repertoire includes a mix of well-known songs from around the Arab world, as well as a couple of his own heart-felt compositions.