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Omani singer Salha talks about her first love
She has gigs lined up around the world. But it took a painful heartbreak for singer Salha to discover her extraordinary passion for music and song.
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:11 May 4, 2008
- Salha is of Omani origin with parents from Zanzibar.
- Image Credit: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News
"It's not you, it's me", "I think I need to concentrate on my career right now" and "you really are the nicest person I've ever met, but I think we'd be better as friends" are all potential lines when it comes to a break-up.
The effects of which could, for some of us, have a negative impact on our career. But for Omani singer Salha, it was a very different story.
Video: Click here to watch Salha in action on stage in Dubai
For this 30-something-year-old it was a devastating break-up which quite literally catapulted her career back into action.
Dressed in a modest yellow summer dress, Salha immediately lit up the recording studio where we met.
Love story
Full of smiles, kisses and an abundance of energy, she sits and begins her love story.
She said:"Music was always my first love and I knew it. It was something I was born with and the only thing in my life which has remained an absolute constant for as long as I can remember."
Born in London, where she grew up and eventually went to university, Salha is of Omani origin with parents from Zanzibar.
She added: "We were quite a traditional family really and my parents encouraged me to get involved with extra-curricular
activities like singing, dancing and drama. I loved it but always found my passion suppressed somewhat by people in my life who were pushing me in more academic directions."
Giving in to the pressure of parents and society, Salha went on to study German and French at university before moving to
Oman with her parents where she started work at a magazine. “I was doing a bit of everything really. I was writing, doing PR and marketing and anything else in between. But the music was still inside me and I knew I couldn't let it go."
Bright lights
So armed with nothing other than a small suitcase of clothes and a new attitude she travelled west to the bright lights of Los Angeles, US, to try her luck.
“Obviously it didn't take me long to realise it wasn't quite as glamorous as you imagine it! I was successful a few times but because I didn't have my visa it was always really hard to get anywhere. So, instead I worked as a dancer, waitress, was an extra in sitcoms and even did henna on the beach a few times. All the work was cash-in-hand and I just got by."
But it was in LA that Salha found love and that seemed to make everything OK. “I was in love", she said."Nothing mattered."
Love lost
Until it all went wrong.
"He broke my heart and suddenly it released something from deep within and I started writing songs."
Salha moved back to Oman with her parents and decided it was time to follow her passion, forget her love lost and live
alongside her first and only true love — music.
Salha is best known for her two years long, six night–a-week-gig, at the Crowne Plaza's Piano Bar which closed last year.
But her schedule has now reached new heights having secured major gigs at the Dubai Rugby 7s, various annual balls and prime nights at hotels around Dubai.
“My inspiration for songs is still very much rooted in my heartache. Many of my songs are about love, moving on, getting over a relationship and the various emotions we all feel when in love."
Breaking into song every now and then, Salha laughs as she wonders whether her inspiration will ever change and find
something new. She looks into the air for answers and then back at me when we talk of her success.
‘Waiting to happen'
“It's funny because I don't consider myself to have 'made it' at all. I feel like I'm still waiting for it to happen. But so many of my friends say 'what are you talking about?' You've made it big and it's only up from here."
Starting as most singers do (with a struggle) it certainly wasn't always big bands and bright lights.
She added:"It's all happened so gradually really but I think it's all relative. When I look back I can't believe I ever carried on. The days singing carols in shopping malls are behind me and yet I look on those moments with fond memories as they got me where I am today.
“But obviously it is better now. If I got gigs in the past I had to scrabble around and try and get some musicians but now I have my own band on tap whenever I need them and we are a small family. We travel together and it's wonderful."
Blessing
But the recognition Salha is really looking for is that of her parents. Always supportive in many ways, including financially when she had nowhere to live, the little girl inside her is desperately waiting for them to open up and give her their blessing.
She added: "Don't get me wrong, they have always been there for me and they've always encouraged me to do well but I've just never felt like they really understand my love. Sometimes, my parents would come and sit at the Piano Bar and listen to my whole show but afterwards they wouldn't do that thing I thought parents do — gush and tell me how amazing I am. I think I miss that."
With gigs lined up around the world in hotspots including London, Uganda, Kenya and more, Salha is enjoying the jet-setting lifestyle but still has her feet firmly on the ground and looks forward to her bread-and-butter sets in Dubai and Oman.
“I don't need the recognition but, of course, it would be nice. I would love people to know my music but that's truly what it's about — the music — I don't need them to know me. I really want people to share my true love and experience what I do," she said.
Did you know?
Singer Salha and her band played two energeticbefore and after the What's On Awards in Dubai last month.
Salha has been performing at the What's On Awards for three years now and says she loves it. "I'm a big fan. I've worked with alot of these people. All the beautiful people in Dubai come to this event."
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