Dubai: A 27-year-old Lebanese singer has been given the chance of a lifetime after she was picked as winner of a talent hunt by a star-studded panel on the second day of the Dubai Music Week late Wednesday night.
Singer Xriss Jor, who impressed judges will.i.am, Timbaland and Quincy Jones with her rendition of the Beyonce song, Listen, will get the opportunity to work with the legendary Jones to produce a single and a video.
“Thank you so much. It’s an honour,” said breathless Jor, who was chosen among five pre-screened performers at the Producers Panel on the second day of the Dubai Music Week. Her competitors were Emirati Soul singer Hamdan Al Abri, Dubai-based Lebanese band Jay Wud, Lebanese pop singer DD Fox and Sudanese R&B singer Nile. Jor who won fans with her covers of popular Western songs on the Arabic version of singing reality show The Voice last year, was picked on Wednesday for her voice and confidence, said the judges, who deliberated for five minutes before picking her.
“I liked how you drew people in as soon as you began singing,” producer and Timbaland told her. “will.i.am and I were impressed by the tone in your voice. You can also make a good rapper.” Jor, who counted Celine Dion, Alicia Keys and Pink as her inspirations, said she’s been wanting to work on her own original songs. “Well, your life is just about to begin,” Timbaland told her.
The six-day Dubai Music Week kicked off on Tuesday with a panel discussion led by Jones on the making of three of Michael Jackson’s biggest albums, which he produced. will.i.am and
Timbaland perfor on Thursday night, followed by pop star Selena Gomez on Friday and Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar on Saturday. The event also features exhibitions, talent showcase and talks by music industry executives. It runs until September 29.
