Lebanese singer Hanin Abu Shaqra will for the first time throughout her singing career hold a concert in Cuba on the 15th of May. Hanin has gained popularity for her ability to mix Arab tunes with Cuban ones and singing along her Cuban troupe songs from the Arab heritage.
According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Hanin will take advantage of her stay in Cuba to film a music video for one of the songs from her upcoming album. Her new release will include eight songs, three of which are remixes of old songs.
Hanin debuted in the year 2000 by singing songs for several prominent Arab artists including Laila Murad, Asmahan and Mohammed Abdel Wahab, in a new style blending Arab and Cuban styles.
The Lebanese singer's career advanced quickly after she was adopted by Lebanese producer Michelle Alfateryades. She captivated everybody with her warm voice and the way she performed old songs in her new style. Hanin described the new experiences as the most difficult in her life. “Yes, I have recently started a professional career... I am seeking to reach the status of an original singer,” Hanin said.
The artist studied law and worked as a lawyer, but she preferred singing to the courtroom, and hopes that she will never regret her decision one day. To enhance her position as a singer, Hanin studied the art at the Higher Music Institute in Lebanon to add to her talent and enrich her voice.
On her singing debut, Hanin said, “I used to receive daily training for more than four hours for eight months. Singing in Arabic with a Cuban troupe involves needed a lot of work, because the Arabic tunes are far distant from the Cuban ones. Therefore, I had to follow developed harmony and cadence in order to reach my goal. Singing these masterpieces was an opportunity I wanted to seize at the right time. This opportunity enabled me to perform an international show, which I never dreamed of before, when I was chosen from among hundreds of Arab artists by Warner Bros. to market my production worldwide. This is indicative of the company’s executive's regard for my voice and strong performance.”
She also performed with the international singer Deems Rouses at Jubilee festivals in 2001, which was a distinctive milestone in the course of her career, particularly in view of the fact that Rouses admires her voice. Hanin performed at the Jubail and Batron festivals and participated in the inauguration of the UAE Media City, in addition to performing on the UNESCO stage with an audience of more than 20,000.
Hanin sticks to the traditions she acquired from her Lebanese village of Amatour. She describes herself as the girl of the village and so her friends have nicknamed her that. This is because she always adheres to the basic principles of how to treat people and respect the feelings of everybody. She believes that the village left its mark on her personality as evidenced by her romance, family ties and direct and clear behavior. She rejects very much the style of artists who have introduced lots of technology into their songs, saying that by doing so; they have lost the original Eastern tunes. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
