Sabrine whole-heartedly embracing Opera

When Egyptian-born Sabrine met Opera for the first time she knew it was a match made in heaven. The relationship started on a Sinai beach in 1999. Feeling the cold, Sabrine huddled around an open fire with some musicians and it was here she first laid eyes on her love.

"The feeling I got that day was very intense this attraction," she said.

A week later and back in Cairo she took her love life into her own hands and went out and bought two darbuka drums, that is. With an intense passion for the drum Sabrine introduced me to Opera her pride and joy and her instrument of choice.

"She is so beautiful," she says holding the intricately-decorated drum in front of her. "They are like women. Pretty and intriguing and I can't help but name them. They feel like women and they bruise like us if you don't look after them."

For the best part of a decade, the life of the multi-talented Sabrine Al Hossamy and the darbuka have been intertwined.

"I left a life in corporate for a relationship with Opera," she continued. "I realised there was more to life than 14-hour days and stress."

While working on her album, Darbuka Heat, Sabrine's reputation grew along with her live performances from touring Turkey to jamming with DJs in Paris.

Now you can catch her live at Karma Kafe, Souk Al Bahar Tuesday and Wednesday night. Free entry. Call 04-4230909