Hanin Abu Shaqra debuted last year by singing songs of several prominent Arab artists including Laila Murad, Asmahan and Mohammed Abdel Wahab, in a new style blending Arab and Cuban singing, according to the Arabic daily Al Sharq Al Awsat.
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 told the daily.
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 is studying the art at the Higher Music Institute in Lebanon, and she will graduate with a diploma very soon, which will polish her talent and enrich her voice, she hopes.
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 “nice torture” 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 executives regard for my voice and strong performance.”
Performing along with the international singer Deems Rouses at Jubilee festivals this year was a distinctive milestone in the course of her career, particularly in view of the fact that Rouses admires her voice. She, at the same time, listens to his suggestions to stand like a queen on the stage in order to control the situation.
She said she actually felt that way when she sang along with him on the same stage.
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.
The Lebanese artist is currently mulling an appearance before her audience with a new style within an Arab Cuban framework, but with a salsa twist, which is different from the old Cuban music.
The artist 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 so doing, they have lost the original Eastern tunes – Albawaba.com
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