Four Stars To Watch Out For In the Middle East
From Palestinian singers, Saudi comedians, to Irish DJs, here are four stars to keep an eye on.
Rasha Nahas
Rasha Nahas, a palestinian singer, composer, and instrumentalist who has a distinctive approach to songwriting, storytelling, and performance. Her sound moving seamlessly between the resonances of early rock ‘n’ roll and the anarchic heyday of ‘80s experimental electronica.
She recently dropped the title track ‘Amrat’ from her upcoming sophomore album accompanied by a video shot in her hometown of Haifa. ‘Amrat’ is her first Arabic-language album and is billed as “a therapeutic journey back to her roots.”
The track, Nahas says in a press release “symbolizes a choice to hold on to how things are before they slip away.”
She is among the first to receive the Bertha Foundation’s Artivism Award in 2022.
Moayad
Moayad is an actor of Saudi origin, born in 1985. He works in the field of art and comedy. He joined this field in 2012, where his first start was in the field of stand-up comedy, accompanied by a group of young people.
The artist’s personality became famous after he presented some funny programs that changed the psychology of the masses of his beloved character and also participated in his audience in all circumstances.
However, the Saudi comedian, actor, and rapper’s upcoming debut album is Saudi label MDLBEAST’s first venture into hip-hop. This first single from the LP is, according to a press release, “written as an homage to both Arabic poetry and rap music.” “For a long time, I have felt there’s a need to celebrate the poetic heritage of this part of the world,” the 35-year-old artist says in the release. “To do so now, and through hip-hop, I see as a perfect synergy.”
Dareen Barbar
Dareen Barbar, born in Lebanese on 19th January 1978. A Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and an Athlete. Dareen appeared on the global scene after making history in the most glamorous events on the planet, the World, Beauty, Fitness and Fashion Show in London 2017, where she competed in the Transformation and Makeover Division and won.
She became the first Arab Amputee to participate in such a pageant. She is an ambassador of inclusion for people of determination which is known as the disabled in the UAE.
She have been awarded and honoured in several events, for her achievements, the first Arab amputee to complete a super sprint in Dubai women’s triathlon 2018.
In June 2021, Dareen break the Guinness World Record for the longest Samson’s chair sit, also known as a static wall sit, by a female contender.
She won the title after completing the sit for two minutes and 8.24 seconds, and the record also makes her the first female amputee to hold a Guinness World Record in the Middle East.
Her journey has impacted and still impacting a lot of people from all over the world.
Recently, she has taken her inspirational story as the basis for her first foray into music, a track released by Universal Music, which finds Barbar rapping her story. “Basma,” she says in a press release, “reflects everything I am today, my power and positive energy. I really hope my voice will reach everyone out there.”
Shaun Warner
Shaun Warner, who hails from Menlo in Galway started his music career as a DJ in 1998. He quickly moved up the ranks, from supporting local names through to promoting his own club nights, followed by a stint DJing in Dublin at venues including The Odeon and Sin.
The UAE-based Irish DJ and producer’s third album is his most personal work yet, written following the collapse of his marriage and the death of two close friends. Like his two previous LPs, it features numerous collaborations, and the variety of moods reflects his personal ups and downs. The title, he says, “refers to me finally feeling like I’m coming back to life.”