Rhythms of the Gulf: The singing star bringing Khaliji music to the world

The dialogue will bring together inspirational people from around the world with connections to the Middle East and North Africa. Guy Sean explores what drives these extraordinary people.

For Qatari singer Fahd Al Qubaisi, sitting in an empty theater is probably a rare experience. Normally, the audience would be packed with fans waiting impatiently for his voice, which is described as a “gentle baritone.” But it was on a private set at Doha’s Katara Cultural Village that Fahd spoke about his own life and career in The Dialogue.

“My ambition is to bring the Gulf song to the world without losing its spirit,” he says. When asked if the Carisi music genre he’s most known for could break out, he’s confident it will. “Definitely,” he asserts.

The roots of Khaliji music are believed to go back over 1,000 years. It is characterized by extensive use of stringed instruments such as rebab and oud, and is very popular throughout the Arab world. Fahad says it has close ties to other music genres that are gaining popularity.

“I think Gulf songs are very close to Indian music and very close to African culture,” he says. Rhythm binds them together, explains Fahad.

“We have rhythms that are associated with women, we have rhythms that are for men, and there are rhythms that are only played on certain occasions,” he explains. Fahad added that this type of format can be complicated to work with.

“So for Gulf songs, it’s very difficult to create a separate format while still linking to the music,” he says. “That’s why I spend a lot of time making songs that are close to the original and linking them to Western music.”

Fahad performed “Dreamers,” the official song of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with BTS member Jungkook. “For me, being able to attend and sing the opening ceremony of the World Cup was the most beautiful moment of my life,” he enthused. “This dream was a big one… to sing in front of over 3 billion viewers.”

He said the experience of singing in both Arabic and English was challenging, but he was able to perform the record-breaking songs without difficulty. “You need mental presence, you need focus,” he outlines. “But it often has a very beautiful impact …because it can reach audiences of all communities, whether they listen to Arabic or not. [music] Or if they don’t speak Arabic. ”

For Fahad, the experience was a new opportunity and a life changer. “It really encouraged me…[that] I have to play music in two languages,” he said with a smile.

Fahad has already achieved much in his career, including winning the prestigious Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best in World Music in 2020. In addition to singing, he has various ambitions and aspirations within and outside the music industry. tackle.

“I had to become a complete media system that could influence the modern generation,” he explains. “I’m very interested in production. I’m interested in having a studio and radio, and I’m interested in having multiple different media outlets in the future.”

These mediums allow Mr. Fahd to mentor young singers trying to navigate an industry often seen as “hard to break through.” As Fahad realized her talents at an early age, she has the experience to guide them.

During his career, Fahd has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Titanic and Avatar composer James Horner. And he’s keen to continue collaborating to reach the widest possible audience.

“I would like to work with a group of international artists to create a collection of songs,” he says. “So we can reach the whole world with our music.”

Fahad’s goal is clear: “Music is my passion. I hope people will always see it and my voice will continue to be heard,” he declares. Considering FIFA’s “Dreamers” has taken the internet by storm and has over 130 million views on YouTube alone, he’s already made some dreams come true.