Baharat is a band united by their desire to instill a unique flavor of music into their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. The band uses their music to deliver heartfelt messages about cultural identity by utilizing compelling and nuanced compositions powered by a driving rhythm section. Starting out as the backing band of singer/songwriter Lyla Abukhodair, Baharat soon became a more collaborative project as each member started to contribute more to the writing process. Once the songs were no longer exclusively composed by Abukhodair, she and the band felt it necessary to rebrand as more than just her backing band. The band consists of the aforementioned lead singer Lyla Abukhodair, childhood friend/Bass player Jackson Engstrom, Rob enthusiast Rob Runnels on drums, and Marshall Dillon/Emanuel Eisele on lead and rhythm guitar, respectively. This diverse cast of members allows for an equal amount of influences to be present in Baharat’s music. The band has roots in punk, folk, and midwest emo music.