Remember the name Mashrou Leila (Leila's Project), because we guarantee this band will become a household name very soon.
Dubbed Beirut's Arabic-language rock fusion pioneers, the Lebanese seven-piece group is set to perform live in Dubai this evening — their second appearance in the emirate — and tickets are selling fast.
Comprising Omaya Malaeb (keyboard), Haig Papazian (violin), Firas Abou Fakher (guitar), Hamed Sinno (vocals), Carl Gerges (drums), Andre Chedid (guitar), and Ebrahim Badr (bass), tabloid! chatted with the band ahead of tonight's performance.
Tell us a little bit more about Mashrou Leila.
We are five architects, a graphic designer and an engineer. We all met while studying at the American University in Beirut. Some of us are still there finishing up our under grads.
Has that encouraged others in Lebanon to follow suit? Do you want to be ambassadors for more students in the region to be encouraged to experiment with music?
The local music scene in Lebanon has definitely been booming, more and more independent acts are forming and concert attendance has been on the rise. It's hard to say whether our recent success has been a by-product or the cause of this. It's probably a little of both.
We've been actively pursuing performing in college settings throughout the Middle East. I don't know if that means that we are the ambassadors of independent music in the Middle East, but the hope is that people who come to our shows will get inspired to start listening and writing their own music. Anything other than that Arabic pop rubbish they are flooding our ears with would be a welcome change.
Is it harder to break into the popular music scene when you take on a genre that is not so common (in comparison to the likes of Haifa Wehbe or Fares Karam, for example)?
Sure it's harder to break into the music scene with that kind of genre. But this is mainly due to the fact that there is a severe lack of infrastructure and funding for that kind of music. A lot of people can't stand Arabic pop and have to resort to the West for their musical needs. We are hoping to fill that gap by providing local music that isn't in the stale and formulaic format as Arabic pop while maintaining our Middle Eastern identity.
Has the current Arab uprising inspired you to write songs about the current situation or even influenced the way you write?
The current Arab uprising has definitely been a game changer and has gotten us rethinking about how our music should fit in this new order. We've spent the last three months recording and mixing songs we had written when the idea of an Arabic uprising was unthinkable.
We should be getting back to writing soon, how much influence the current situation will have is yet to be seen.
The death of Osama Bin Laden: true or conspiracy in your opinion?
No clue. Guess it's probably true.
What are your ambitions? What would you like to achieve in the next five years?
Well, we have two goals: the first is a second album with legit production, recording and mixing. This would really be a step up for us, since we literally wrote and recorded our first album between classes and on a ridiculously low budget.
The second is proving that Mashrou Leila is profitable. Not because we are hoping to make a living out of it — after all, we all have our own separate careers on top of Mashrou Leila. But because doing this would get record labels, managers and concert promoters interested in working with local bands and independent musical acts. This in turn would encourage more local musicians to take their music more seriously by making their lives easier.
Is there any artist — Arabic or Western — you would like to collaborate with?
We are always looking to collaborate — whoever, whenever, as long as there is a chemistry.
Those seeing you for the first time, what songs do you recommend them to listen to before heading out to your show?
We love all our songs equally, but if I had to pick I'd say Fasateen, Oubwa, Sheem il Yasmeen and Raksit Leila.
Mashrou Leila performs tonight from 9pm at the Majestic Hotel's Music Room. Tickets cost Dh100.
Arabia Online
"The Tunisian press knows very well that my relationship with the former Tunisian government was very bad, so no, I was not close to [former Tunisian president Zine Al Abidine] Bin Ali."
— Tunisian singer Latifa hits back at media that have accused her of supporting her country's former regime.
Abdo recovering
Mohammad Abdo's son, Abd Al Rahman, has assured fans and the Arab media that his father's health is improving after a publication falsely reported that the legendary Saudi singer had passed away.
According to news reports, Al Rahman told reporters that although his father is currently in intensive care, he is in a stable condition. Abdo is expected to undergo a recovery programme in Paris later this month.
Amer Khafash tragically injured
We're sad to report that Jordanian artist Amer Khafash has been left paralysed from the waist down after an operation went wrong.
According to news reports, the actor had been suffering minor back pains, and was advised by doctors to undergo minor surgery.
However, during surgery, it is said that the medical team damaged part of his spinal cord.
It is said that there is a chance Khafash could recover and walk again if he undergoes intensive treatment. Get better soon and our thoughts are with you, Amer.
Star Academy 8 Update - Week 5
Star Academy sure is bizarre sometimes. We couldn't believe it last Friday when Haddaway appeared as a guest on the live show. The Trinidadian-Dutch artist performed a few of his hits with the students, including '90s Europop smash What is Love. Who would have thought he was still in business?
The students and presenter Hilda Khalifa also paid tribute to the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine Middleton, by kicking off the show with a song and dance sporting Union flag costumes.
Sadly, Yasmine Ahjouwi from Morocco was the student to be eliminated from the show. This week, Karima Gouit from Morocco and Karim Kamel and Ahmad Ezzat — both from Egypt — face the public vote.
Meanwhile, Sarah continues to maintain her status as "most annoying Star Academy student ever", whilst Layan and Nina had a massive shouting match over, wait for it, a dress! Dear oh dear.
