The group Maeandros was created by oud player, singer and songwriter Mavrothi Kontanis, and performs traditional folk, urban and classical music of Greece and the Near East, as well as original compositions in both Greek and English. The members of Maeandros share a deep love and respect for the traditional music of the Aegean Sea region, and move audiences of all backgrounds with their emotional and virtuosic performances. The ensemble also enjoys participating in educational workshops to help preserve and pass on this truly rich and diverse musical tradition. 

Vocalist Gaida is known for her original and highly personal style marked by great emotional intensity. The "Syrian Nightingale" "evokes the emotional storminess of legendary singers like Warda and Om Kalthoum," but her remarkable abilities to improvise and expand on traditional Arabic maqams "suggest all new exotic possibilities." In her debut album "Levantine Indulgence" Gaida exposes her innermost emotions using her powerful yet refined and expressive voice. Each song is at its core about love, longing and caring. In Gaida's own words, "I will always sing with tears close to my eyes, beats pounding my fragile heart, and care wrapping the world." 

The wide range of musical styles heard within Gaida’s music reflects the diversity of her background. One song may capture the vocal finesse and tenderness of Fairuz, or highly ornate vocal stylings reminiscent of Oum Kalthoum, contrasted by a slow, sultry blues number, followed by a Brazilian, samba-like piece. These various styles flow together organically and naturally; tied together by Gaida's depth of soul and her evocative and expressive voice, which transcends genre and drives directly into the listener's heart.