When it comes to Arabic pop music, not all roads lead to Cairo or Beirut. Where before those cities were viewed as the industry capitals of the region, the UAE has been staking its claim over the years as a music production hub with talent and venues of its own.
One of the most recent artist to benefit from this is Lebanese songstress Rima Yussef.
Her latest single, Mghayarni, was written and recorded in Dubai and its accompanying video was shot at Al Serkal Avenue, before the global pandemic took hold. The song is a follow up to her well-received Maaleish,
The social media buzz surrounding Mghayarni not only underscores her status as a future star, but highlights the opportunities the UAE offers to musicians.
“Well, I have been living here for two years, so I didn’t even consider doing this song anywhere else,” Yussef says.
“I agree that before, there was this idea that you have to go to Lebanon, for example, to make your music but that is no longer the case. When I was working on this song, I realised how much talent there was here in the UAE. I met composers and arrangers as well visited great studios. Really, I have all that I need here as an artist.”
Mghayarni is another example of Yussef's knack for blending the old with the new. It is an elegant ballad fusing the classical orchestral sounds from the golden age of Arabic pop with the modern production touches of today.
Music success is a marathon, not a sprint
Mghayarni translated to English means " he changed me" and the song is not so much a lovelorn ballad but a message of resilience in the wake of relationship hiccups.
Yussef, who wrote and composed the track, explains that tackling the song from that lyrical angle was difficult. It’s easier to sing about a break-up than capturing the nuance of a love in turmoil.
“It comes from me understanding my vulnerabilities and weaknesses,” she says. “I wrote the song and lyrics rather quickly, but that’s only because it is something that I have been thinking about all the time. I think it comes with marriage, because the more I live with my husband, the more I get to know about myself as well.”
That self-belief was also responsible for entering an already crowded regional music industry.
Born in the Ivory Coast before moving to Lebanon as a toddler, Yussef, 24, began performing as a child in school and television before enrolling in a music academy in the town of Bikfaya.
She credits that training in giving her the patience in an industry she views as more a marathon than a sprint. In a time where television talent quests routinely look for the next big thing, Yussef says winning the music game lies in maintaining your career.
She points to the enduring success of artists like Nancy Ajram and Assi El Hallani as building a solid fan base over the last three decades.
“And that only comes from working hard on their craft,” she says. “There are many people with great voices, but that’s not enough. You need to keep performing and writing new songs.”
On that score, the regional music industry lockdown has been an unexpected blessing. Yussef has used the downtime to pen a few tracks that would see the light of day later in the year.
“I have been taking advantage of the situation and I already wrote the songs that I want to release for the rest of the year,” she says. “Even more than recording them here, I can’t wait to perform them live. I hope the time will come soon.”
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
How Beautiful this world is!
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
