The blending of East and West in pop music is fraught territory.
For decades, artists from both worlds have attempted to fuse songs with what they view as a “club sound” or an “Arab feel”.
Some of the results can charitably be described as staid, such as Shakira's Arabian-style guitar riffs and chaotic percussion in 2001's Eyes Like Yours, while the less we say of Egyptian pop star Tamer Hosny's brief dalliance with hip-hop in 2013's Si Al Sayed the better.
One of the rare artists to get it right was producer Timbaland, when he deftly sampled Khosara Khosara for the 1999 Jay Z hit Big Pimpin', only to be rewarded with a copyright claim from the family of late Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi.
But Moroccan-American singer Abir (full name Abir Haronni) is more promising, and her style points a potential way forward when it comes to bridging the best of both worlds.
Her album, Heat, which was released last year, is a captivating melange of styles, with modern RnB tracks sung with Middle Eastern melodies and powered by sturdy North African instrumentation and percussion.
Mixing and matching
This all could have sounded like a mess.
But, as Abir tells The National, the secret to its sonic success is down to her and US producer Mick Schultz's decision to approach the music the other way around.
"A lot of times what happens is that an artist will try to replicate the Arabic sound with western instruments," Abir says. "What me and Mick did was the opposite. We used instruments from the region to replicate western instruments. So instead of a snare drum, we would use Moroccan percussion. So the whole process for us was like a puzzle in trying to find out which instruments fit, and that was a lot of fun."
That mix-and-match approach not only gives Heat a certain sense of exuberance, but also an otherworldly pop feel.
Songs such as Galleria and Yallah come with infectious, radio-ready hooks, and an ethereal quality, thanks to some of the off-kilter sounds provided by Moroccan instruments, the qarkabeb (castanets) and bendir, a wood-framed drum.
“The Arabic instruments and scale offers a singer so many new flavours,” she says.
"What is cool about it is that it evokes so many emotions like sadness and nostalgia. But what it really gives a song, from my perspective, is that sense of mystery; a cliff-hanger-like feel that you don't find in the usual pop song."
Sounds of home
That desire to keep listeners on their toes stems from Abir's own journey of self-discovery.
Born in the Moroccan city of Fez, Abir and her family immigrated to the US when she was six years old, where they settled in Arlington, Virginia.
There, Abir, 26, recalls a household teeming with the traditions of her homeland.
"My parents did the best they could to keep me constantly aware of where we came from and [made sure] that we understood our roots," she says. "So I grew up listening to Moroccan music, I know the food, and we would go back to visit during the summer whenever we could."
But even that approach couldn’t prevent the identity crisis that comes with the immigrant experience. There were some questions Abir needed to answer herself.
"When I was about 18 years old, I realised that it wasn't my parents' responsibility to teach me about my culture and there could be some aspects that they didn't know themselves," she says. "I realised it was really up to me to fully connect with who I am, to really do the research and understand where I come from."
Heat is the result of that life-long project.
It is a collection of songs that represent Morocco’s rich music scene, as well as provide an arresting snapshot of the Arab youth diaspora, which is vibrant, modern and dynamic.
A story to tell
Abir relishes the prospect of her music uncovering some outdated misconceptions surrounding the region, particularly around Arab women.
The lead single Inferno is a case in point. It is a slinky RnB number laced with Arab strings. The lyrics are the opposite of subject matter often heard in Arabic pop songs today.
"The songs talk about a woman in her element and acknowledging her choice to tell a guy: 'I am just not interested in you or being in a relationship,'" Abir explains.
“The song goes on to say that we can hang out and be cool or you may be playing with fire and you will get your feelings hurt. It is an empowering song and something we don't hear a lot discussed in the region or anywhere really."
Abir plans to continue to document the deep-dive into her heritage in future releases, and aims to eventually travel to Morocco and record songs with local musicians.
That may be a more arduous approach, but Abir says it's worth it.
"I can't be in this music business without being myself one hundred per cent. Why should I make music that doesn't necessarily paint an accurate portrait of who I am?
"I want people to learn about me and get that different perspective. Let me show you what it is to be an Arab woman in America who grew up in a Moroccan household. I have my own story to tell and I want to share it.”
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Race card
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowdash%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESean%20Trevaskis%20and%20Enver%20Sorkun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERestaurant%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Plus%20VC%2C%20Judah%20VC%2C%20TPN%20Investments%20and%20angel%20investors%2C%20including%20former%20Talabat%20chief%20executive%20Abdulhamid%20Alomar%2C%20and%20entrepreneur%20Zeid%20Husban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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%3Cp%3EEtihad%20Airways%20operates%20seasonal%20flights%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20Nice%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Azur%20Airport.%20Services%20depart%20the%20UAE%20on%20Wednesdays%20and%20Sundays%20with%20outbound%20flights%20stopping%20briefly%20in%20Rome%2C%20return%20flights%20are%20non-stop.%20Fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C315%2C%20flights%20operate%20until%20September%2018%2C%202022.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Radisson%20Blu%20Hotel%20Nice%20offers%20a%20western%20location%20right%20on%20Promenade%20des%20Anglais%20with%20rooms%20overlooking%20the%20Bay%20of%20Angels.%20Stays%20are%20priced%20from%20%E2%82%AC101%20(%24114)%2C%20including%20taxes.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
