Lebanese singer Assi Hilani has announced that he will be traveling with his wife and children to Canada for leisure and relaxation during the beginning of Ramadan (Muslim holy month). The singer stressed that the time has come for him to take time off after a summer filled with performances and other exhausting activities.
The singer also revealed that upon his return from Canada he will begin preparations for his upcoming album, hoping to have it ready by June 2004. It was added that Assi will hold a live concert in Egypt during the first days of Eid Al Futir (Muslim holiday following the end of Ramadan), as well as a live performance in Lebanon on New Years Eve.
Hilani is currently on tour around the United States of America in which he is holding a number of performances in different states. The tour will began on September 25, 2003 and will last up to October 19, 2003.
Hilani recently announced that he is currently going through a severe depression resulting from the conditions that have been clouding over the region for the past months. The singer added that the situation in Iraq and Palestine with enemy invasion of people’s land has kept everyone in a state of utter despair not knowing what the outcome will be.
The singer has on the other hand expressed that despite the huge success his new album has accomplished and the increase of popularity he is witnessing around the Arab world with large crowds of people attending all his concerts, his mind is not put at ease due to the situation that has taken over the region and would not allow anyone any form of peace of mind.
Assi stressed that as a singer he feels he is responsible in giving something back to his audience especially those who are living through hardships day after day. He feels he owes his fans something that may help them out even if it is just to show his support towards them.
Assi recently held an unforgettable performance at the Carthage Festival in Tunisia, which witnessed an audience of over 12 thousand. The singer sung a collection of his new songs from his latest album “Fursit Omir” (A Chance of a Lifetime), in addition to a song dedicated especially to the people of Tunisia under the title “Carthage my Precious Dream". Assi’s performance was very successful with the audience singing along and dancing throughout the night. The singer had wanted to dedicate a special song in order to show his love and appreciation to his Tunisian fans.
The new summer release hit stores on July 21, 2003 witnessing record breaking sales in a number of Arab countries. His new album is a collection of 12 new songs sung in the Lebanese and Bedouin accents, a style that the singer had refrained from singing in his previous album. Assi stressed that his release is revolutionary in the type of music it contains. The singer is sure that the songs chosen for the album will prove to be a big success among his viewers, in which he used modernized musical and singing techniques. –Albawaba.com
