It’s an odd mix of old and new, borrowed and blue.
Up-and-coming Emirati star Mohammad Al Shehhi’s songs, which are full of poetic lyrics, are also a curious mix of traditional and western influences.
Al Shehhi will play his music — songs that are mostly composed by him — at Dubai Opera on June 30.
The YouTube star, with 568,922 subscribers at the time of writing, says he’s been singing since he was in school. And now, at age 24, he’s taking over the airwaves with his hybrid style.
The Ras Al Khaimah native drew fame with the songs Hirati and Samti, and went on to seal his status with his hit Kachf Al Mahaba, which has had more than 34 million views on YouTube since its release in 2016.
Mohammad Al Shehhi |
Dubai Opera’s chief executive, Jasper Hope, said in a statement: “A young Emirati artist performing his own incredibly popular music in the first Opera House in the UAE is a fantastic evening for the whole country to look forward to and to celebrate. I am so pleased we will shortly be able to add the name of Mohammad AlShehhi to the extraordinary array of outstanding artists to have graced Dubai Opera’s stage in just our first year.”
Ahead of his show, the Emirati musician talks inspiration, songwriting process and why he likes to add western beats to Arabic-infused singles.
1. Tell us a bit about your musical journey. What made you want to start a YouTube channel?
I have always loved singing, and it has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started singing as far back as [my] school days. I also started composing as a teenager and writing my own songs, which I find a very satisfying process. Starting a YouTube channel was an important decision in following my chosen path of remaining an independent musician, and wanting to define my own artistic future. It is the best way to get my music out to my fans.
2. Who or what inspires you? What inspires your music?
I am very particular about what I sing about. The words and the poetry have to hold a deep meaning for me, in order for me to be able to sing them with honesty and conviction. Having grown up in Ras Al Khaimah, I have a deep love for my culture, and Khaleeji music is culturally rich, and a sound that is very close to my heart.
3. Tell us a bit about your songwriting process?
The song will almost always start with the words, the poetry. I am very lucky that I have a very natural gift for melody, and for me it all starts there. Once the melodic structure is set down, then I find I have very precise ideas about the arrangement and instrumentation. I actually don’t write down any of my compositions. Everything happens organically and by ear. I then save them in recordings only. I have nearly a hundred songs to date, and the library is growing.
4. What kind of music do you listen to?
I listen quite a bit to [the late] Talal Maddah, a well-known composer and singer from Saudi, who was nicknamed the Golden Throat and Earth’s Voice due to his unique vocals and spontaneity. He was well loved throughout the Gulf, especially through the ’70s to ’90s.
5. Some of your songs include western beats. Why the fusion?
Music is a creative expression, a living art that develops against and reflects the times that we live in. While strongly rooted in Khaleeji, my songs reflect my age and my time. Living in the UAE in 2017.
6. What’s next for you?
I just want to keep writing, and singing and bringing joy to my fans. I absolutely love what I do, and just want to keep performing.
Don’t miss it!
Mohammad Al Shehhi performs at the Dubai Opera on June. Tickets for the show, which begins at 10pm, start at Dh150.
