Music producer and songwriter Dawn Elder at Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood, US. Courtesy: Dawn Elder
Music producer and songwriter Dawn Elder at Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood, US. Courtesy: Dawn Elder
Music producer and songwriter Dawn Elder at Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood, US. Courtesy: Dawn Elder
Music producer and songwriter Dawn Elder at Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood, US. Courtesy: Dawn Elder

Grammy Award-nominated producer Dawn Elder on bringing the sounds of the Middle East to the US: 'I still want that Grammy'


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Why are we here? What is it that we want to achieve? Are we creating something that matters?

This is the series of questions Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Dawn Elder asks aspiring and seasoned artists when they enlist her services.

It also forms the outlook of a three-decade career that ushered in the sounds of the Arab world to US stages and Hollywood studios.

"The music from the Middle East and North Africa is so vibrant, rich and exciting," Elder tells The National.

“Those who come from that region understand this. But I wanted to share these treasures with everyone, not only the diaspora communities but the world.”

Making those cultural connections has been Elder’s life work.

The result is numerous pioneering feats such as founding the International Friendship Festival in 1996; co-organising the inaugural Arab-American Music, Arts and Literature (AMAL) Awards in 1998; and producing North American tours for the likes of Algerian singer Cheb Khaled, Iraq's Kadim Al Sahir, late Lebanese singer Wadi Al Safi and Syria’s Assala. Elder was also responsible for bringing Enrique Iglesias to Egypt in 2014.

And that’s only her work outside the studio.

Inside the recording booth, Elder's keen ear (she is an accomplished pianist) and inclusive philosophy of fusing eastern and western music has seen her produce breakout albums for a host of Arab artists including 1997's Delali by rai singer Cheb Mami and 2001's Raoui by Algerian singer Souad Massi.

Her Grammy Award nomination arrived in 2015 for her work on the soundtrack for American Hustle, starring Robert De Niro.

Elder's contribution was co-writing and producing a new version of Jefferson Airplane's 1967 track White Rabbit, complete with Arabic lyrics sung by Lebanese star and Berklee Abu Dhabi artistic director Mayssa Karaa.

"I still want that Grammy," she says, on the eve of International Women's Day on Monday. "The fact that a woman has yet to ever win Producer of the Year in more than 60 years, when there are so many great women out there, just shows you the problem that we have to overcome."

While her pedigree and industry contacts allow Elder to work with her pick of pop stars, her collaborations are not driven purely by commerce.

“As I get older I find myself more selective and in which jobs I take,” she says. “I really need to feel that whatever it is I am doing is going to make some kind of difference.”

It’s more than falafel

Elder was born in San Francisco to parents of Lebanese and Palestinian descent.

It was a cultural household, underscored by the fact she was named (through English translation) after the late Lebanese chanteuse Sabah.

Elder describes her childhood as both creative and rigorous. She loved listening to rock 'n' roll and also studied classical piano.

At university, she took a double degree in biochemistry and music. That mix of the creative and analytical, she says, made her both a natural people connecter and organiser.

It was an ability demonstrated with her first major gig, setting up the International Friendship Festival alongside Michael Sembello, the singer behind 1983 hit Maniac.

“At the time I was part of this collective called The Bridge and we conceptualised a festival that would represent all the different cultures in Southern California,” she says.

“Now, part of my job with that is to meet all the different communities and invite them to get involved and showcase their stories.”

Elder was particularly keen to meet representatives from the area's Arabic communities, but many of the initial ideas for the festival were weak.

“What they were thinking was 'let’s have a carpet, hookah, a restaurant selling falafels and a couple of belly dancers',” she recalls. "This was just not going to happen. I realised I had to make some phone calls.”

Meeting her namesake

After running through her contact list of musicians and diplomats, serendipity struck.

"I remember just waltzing into the embassy asking the Lebanese consular general if we can bring Fairouz to the festival to perform for free. He just looked at me and then started laughing," Elder recalls with a chuckle.

“But he did point to some friends he knew that were helpful.”

One of those friends was Simon Shaheen, the Palestinian-American oud virtuoso who would go on to become a collaborator (Elder produced his acclaimed 2001 album Blue Flame) as well as a mentor for understanding the depth of classical Arabic music.

She was also put in touch with a Lebanese community leader who knew Sabah. Coincidentally, at the time of the festival, she was performing in Los Angeles.

In a career which has seen her working with the likes of Quincy Jones, Sting, Lenny Kravitz and even meeting the Dalai Lama, it is the encounter with her namesake that remains the most memorable for Elder.

“I will never forget it. We were backstage at this venue and she was wearing her make-up, had on her platform shoes. She had her big blonde hair and her laugh was just infectious," she says.

"When I told her about the festival and its message, she said she would do it. She got the band together and played an amazing show.

“And you know what? She didn't take a cent because she believed in what we were doing. She remains the only artist in the festival’s history to do a free show for us."

Lebanese singer Sabah performing at the 1996 International Friendship Festival. Courtesy: Dawn Elder
Lebanese singer Sabah performing at the 1996 International Friendship Festival. Courtesy: Dawn Elder

Sabah’s performance was a revelatory moment for Elder.

“To see Sabah in the same context as Sembello, alongside rock, funk and other artists, was powerful. I remember thinking that this event could be a role model moving forward,” she says.

“Arabic music in the US and Europe has this reputation for only being played in nightclubs and with belly dancers. I wanted people to know that we have singers on the scale of performing in theatres for international audiences.”

Raising the bar

This view has defined her approach in the studio, too.

Elder’s production is known for its fusion of cultures, from instruments to languages.

A good example is 2005's Love to the People, a multi-lingual Latin-Arab hybrid pop track in which US Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana teams up with Algerian singer Cheb Khaled.

Elder also managed to convince Iraqi crooner Kadim Al Sahir to sing in another tongue.

In his first and only foray into the English language, 2003's Love and Compassion, co-written by Elderis a seamless blend of Arabic folk and Latin pop with Sahir sharing vocals with US singers Paula Cole and Karina Pasian.

Elder's free-wheeling approach requires artists to “lean in” to their doubts and step out of their comfort zone.

"The way to do that really is to give them confidence and support," she says. "I do that by ensuring I get the best musicians together because the arrangement is the key to any successful song.

“In that way, I am kind of an old-school producer. I want the best people in the same room, working together. I am absolutely meticulous when it comes to creating the best vocal performance.”

The same can be said of Elder’s concert productions.

In her efforts to raise the standard of Arabic international live performance, her shows are often lavish spectacles.

In 2009, Syrian singer Assala found herself performing in the historic MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas alongside Khaled and Iraqi singer Rida Al Abdulla for the Sahra gala event.

Co-produced by Elder alongside the National Arab Medical Association, the benefit concert raised funds for Children's Medical Aid in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi also got a taste of that glamour in 2015 with the When the Music Matters concert.

A highlight of that year's Abu Dhabi Festival, the eclectic concert demonstrated how Arabic music can fluidly engage with other genres including rock, jazz, funk and Latin.

More representation, less ego

While Elder’s work has inspired mass audiences, that success has often felt solitary.

As one of a relatively small pool of female music and concert producers in both the US and the Arab world, she says nearly all her projects involve tackling initial gender stereotypes producing music that redefine our concept of Arabic sounds. She hopes her story can inspire other women to break into the music industry.

"The only way we can change things and have more representation in the industry and at awards like the Grammys, for example, is to have more women entering the industry.

"As a producer, who happens to be a woman, I do face these initial doubts not only from men, but women as well. I find that once I get them in the studio and they really see how things gel together, all those thoughts melt away.

“For me, it has never been about ego, but the quality of the work.”

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ENGLAND TEAM

England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT

Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City:
Jesus (9')

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)

Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)

Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)

Scores

Scotland 54-17 Fiji
England 15-16 New Zealand

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

How to come clean about financial infidelity
  • Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
  • Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help. 
  • Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
  • Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
  • Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported. 

Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

match info

Southampton 0

Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')

Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)

Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)

SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice

Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying

Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
  • The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
End of free parking

- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18

- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued

- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket

- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200. 

- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200

- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300

Padmaavat

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5

The biog

Name: Samar Frost

Born: Abu Dhabi

Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends

Favourite singer: Adele

The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

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Spider-Man: No Way Home

Director: Jon Watts

Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon 

Rating:*****

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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THE SPECS

Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 429hp

Torque: 520Nm​​​​​​​

Price: Dh360,200 (starting)

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery