Black Theama's Alexandira Concert

The management team behind the indie Egyptian band Black Theama must be doing something right. Making the band the most booked band since the new Egypt has came to light. Their last appearance wan in the historic city of Alexandria Concert. Looking at their video, one can realize how cool this band really is.

They get into it, interact with the fans and they seem to have a great time, they want to be there and that's awesome. Many performers take the concerts as a job, these guys strike me as they want to party. Black Theam also has an appeal to the people of Southern Egypt who more often than not get overlooked or stereotyped.

What sets this band aside from the dozens of other Egyptian bands is the amount of songs they have dealing with social issues, they do not really sing for politics and activism, instead they focus on fun, good-natured song that tackle social issues that may or may not have political realities.


بلاك تيما - ايه يعني - Black Theama

"Game Over" A Sizzling Arabic Rap Band

Here's an interesting Arabic rap song, it's not of political or social nature, it's love rap like the ones Kanye West released. Its' quite refreshing to see a love rap coming from the Gulf that has a lot of cool elements. The moment I heard the beat, and the lyrics I knew this is one of those songs that draws you in.

Another thing the song has right is the flow and the way all those band members add their vocals to the mix, making it a refreshing song indeed. Check out the fifth song of their album, I am sure you will enjoy it--even if you are not much into rap.

I could not find much info about this band, but I sure would like

راب عربي قيم اوفر - سجانو اغنية شموخ الحب 2011 -

The Funniest Arabic All Boy Bands

While they came form Kuwait, they never lost sight of other Arab countries in their music, they focused on Egypt and making funny songs in good humor. They are back with their 2011 album hoping for a due comeback and some buzz worthy of this band that made it huge in the late 90s and early 00s.

With 9 songs, you can bet you will find something to like from these guys who sing for love, breakup, distance and social issues and do with with a good heart and not taking oneself seriously. To me, they are the Arabic version of Bowling For Soup where humor combing by music do wonders.

Even thought this band comes from the heart of the Arab Gulf, they can make an album and sell a load of records if they just do it in the local dialect and music, like most singers in that part of the world do. But Miami sees the Arab world as one unit, they are willing to record all types of songs to reach out to everyone. I respect that a lot.

01 - Tesma7ily Bel Ra2sa Dy, entertaining those Egyptians living in the poverty stricken areas who love to party. The title is "May I Have This Dance?"
02 - El Mambo El Sodany, no one signing for Sudan, these guy do in this awesome song that celebrates Sudan
03 - Esm Allah 3alikom, mocking those half baked singers and cutting one of them off to deliver this good hearted song.
04 - Wallahy La Arabeek, the angriest song, "I Will Show You!" moment! My poor loved one, do not over do it. Again the perfection of the beat and the vocals make this song a delight. Two Thumbs up for th producer.
05 - Zah2an, a song about being fedup, that offers something to break the boredom. A great way to reveal a creative side of Miami's
06 - Ya Welo, great vocals and quality production. A song made for all Arabs, but the Gulf will specially like it.
07 - Khaliha 3ala Allah, a slow song about God, Time and having a different take on your life as time passes. This track is not about worrying too much, do your best and leave it there.
08 - Fiha Kheer, some Western musical elements utilized to bring this romantic song about finding the one and starting to see life in different colors. This is Miami in their sweetest moment
09 - Medly, an upbeat song where Eastern and Western music meet in harmony.

المامبو السوداني - ميامي

Hilmi Baker Comments On Egyptain Music

Hilmi Baker the Egyptian composer who has been very close to Eastern melodies all his career that has enriched the Arabic songs has given an interview to Alarabya and commented on various issues in Egyptian and Arabic entertainment. He does know a thing or two to give those observations:

1. Egyptian music is like a dead body, lack of solid summer albums attest to that
   
2. I fear Arabic music from the Gulf overtaking Egyptian songs becasue the Gulf singers rely on poetry and poetic lyrics.
3. A lot of those half baked singers who made it big prior to the regime are phasing out under the new revolution.
4. Many of those independents bands that emerged in post Mubarak Egypt are quite good, I fear they are relying too heavily on western melodies and American band styles. I worry they might lose their Eastern soul.
5. Pariah singers in Egypt will restore to singing religious themed songs in an effort to seek redemption for their past support for Mubarak.
6. I call on deleting all those black lists for celebrities, let the good ones be judged by their work without bias.
   
7. I hope to see those commercialized songs go away
   

Black Theama Alexandria Concert

This concert took place at Lycee El Horreya Stadium 30-6-2011 in the captivating Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria. Cairo is too small now if you are a hip band singing about Egypt and for all its people. Now you can be bolder and louder with your concerts, for long you have not been able to say what you wanted to say, now is the time.

And for Black Theama the time is now and the place is Alexandria. Cannot wait for the new album, they must be working on something hot, all the other bands have been doing just that, but you are black theama you sang for the revolution before it started and you highlighted the cause for it in Zahma


Black Theama - في اسكندرية

Fasten Your Seat belt Miami 2011 is Almost Here

Kuwait is known for great cultural things, and music is just one of those things that little country is known for. But the music of that country has always been made and tailored for the residents of that country and to a larger extend the other Arabs in the Gulf region.

It wasn't until the mid 90s that a hip and cool band from that country emerged, Miami, the four men band embarked into a journey of making catchy and upbeat songs in the Gulf dialect and sometimes in the Egyptian dialect. Their songs were pretty popular with the youth as more and more tune in.

In the early 2000, we started hearing less of them and less, releasing an album back then that did not get the right attention, but this year it seems this might be on the way to change. Miami 2011 album is about to hit the stores and if the teaser had any truth, we are in for a treat.


ميامي 2011 قريبا في الأسواق | Miami 2011 - Soon

Jordinain Aziz Maraka Dazzles Spain

Born in Tunisia in 1983, lived there for 10 years, and then moved back to Amman Jordan where he lived a normal life. But he has always gravitated toward music and art, he has his keyboard, then later studies Piano in London.

I must say, as an artist, I am influenced by certain events or phases that I have experienced in my life. War is certainly one of these.

Maraka was not too keen on Classical performance, but he has felt that writing music is his own thing. To build on his skills, attended the Music Academy of Jordan in 2001 for a year, then I was granted a scholarship to study in America where I finished my Bachelor studies in Music Composition. And this born an indie star in Africa, Asia and North America in his journey to take his music to the world.

Watch Aziz takes his who to Casa Arabe in Madrid where he appeared with his band. If you are into jazz, rock or Arabic melodes, you might want to Join his Facebook to keep tabs on where he might be popping next

Aziz Maraka Live at Casa Arabe - Madrid

Hail Me This Egyptain "Taxi" Please

There are a dozen of bands in Egypt that can be labeled indie, some of those indie banks have gone mainstream and singed up with major labels. You can trust me when I tell you this, Taxi is the most indie of them so far. I say this becasue they had the harshest songs about Mubarak.

When you attack a public figure you scare studios and make them think twice before they sign you up to sing with them. They are also charming funny and sharp! They are back with a new promo for their anticipated song Ana El Masry, "I am the Egyptian", clearly this song will be about pride.

This full music video should be released shortly, Taxi has five band members led by Mado, the vocalist and does electric and acoustics. Mohammad Kamel (vocalist), Beeno, vocalist and guitar, Shaher who does base, Azmi Amjad, and Bebo.


Ana el-masry ..Taxi band -v.clip- كليب انا المصري .. فريق تاكسي



TAXI Band - Ana El Masry • TEASER 20 Sec

TAXI Band - Ana El Masry • TEASER 20 Sec from Alaa Khaled on Vimeo.

Egypt's Cairokee Searches For a Leader

It's safe to say that had Mubarak stayed in power, we would not have heard of this Egyptian independent band who released their album few days ago to much buzz. With great vocalists and musicians, Cairokee is Egypt' hottest band and most intellectual of them all.

They saw the lack of leadership in post Mubarak Egypt so they made a record with the titled "Leaders Wanted" A very true to power song about how the country used to treat its citizens who beg to differ. It's a very touching song and now gets its own music video.

It's like a movement it starts with one person, then an other and they keep in coming, the snowball affect that what brought down Mubarak. Now with Mubarak almost out of the picture, someone needs to stop in comes September, the country will choose a leader. It's a great country with great people, they deserve a leader from within who is a reflection of the people.

The focus of the music video is not on any affects by the message of the song takes center stage, they colors are dark, maybe touched by the ongoing events in the motherland. The prelude of the music video gives a brief history of presidential departures in Egypt. The song pulls no punches, if the leader does not look out for the people's interests' we will kick him. Great song all around.

cairokee 2011 Matloub Za3em امير عيد مطلوب زعيم

Buy This Album: Cairokee 2011

"Leaders Wanted", is the title of this album from the funky indie band from Egypt Cairokee. With 10 tracks from and for Egypt, this hip band does it again and now has a larger platform. such band is the answer to half baked brainless entertainers of the likes of Tamer Hosny. They make original and real music. It sounds like some stoners or buzzed writers and singer get together to craft this album.

As for the team behind this patriotic album here they are:

Amir Eid (Vocals, Guitar)
Sherif Hawary (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
Tamer Hashem (Drums)
Ahmed Bahaa (Percussion)
Sherif Mostafa (Keyboard)
Adam El Alfy (Base Guitar)

If you want an album that can challenge you as it entertains you, this is one of the albums I would pick. Please purchase this album, do not download it. I know sometimes you cannot find it, but you need to support the work of the artists to keep good material coming.

Coming to think of it, the name of the album is pretty awesome, if you flip the title around you have "Wanted Leader", like in Mubarak wanted for justice. But that's over with, now the time to find a leader that the people want, not the authority.

01 - Ye3ady El Seef, a non political song, but inspirational. Good vocals & music
02 - Sout El 7oreya, a song from the heart of Tahrir, the famous song that hit it big
03 - Matloob Za3eem, the gem song about what comes next about Egypt and its future! Great
04 - 7elmy Ana, inspirational song written by a lost soul that has seen enough
05 - Masrawy, the most Egypt exclusive song, blends many musical concepts, a sweet treat
06 - Elwad Beta3 El Mazica, a personal account of a musician who wants to lead a normal live
07 - 3'areb Fi Belad 3'areba, a tale of a misfit who finds he is out place in a stranger's land
08 - Efred Gena7ak, wake up your dream and become a believer, a rock song worthy of films and sport events.

The music video for this son has been shot two months ago and it will be released soon. The album has been for years in the making but the revolution put it on the fast track.

Cairokee - كايروكي - مطلوب زعيم

Eskenderella To Represent Egypt in Carthage

For the first time in ages, Egypt will be present at the Carthage Music Festival in Tunisia--the other Arab country that ousted a dictator will be represented by in Indie band. Not some pop singer or some popjlar name, a band that comes from behind and will steal the show in that country and bring the spirit of Tahrir to this iconic music festival.

This turns the page on the past practices, just like that Eskenderella song about new page. The nomination was made by the Ministry of Culture, which the band announced on their Facebook page, "In the past Egypt was represented by Amr Diab and Sherine, now guess who will be representing Egypt?" said one band member on their page.

On other band related news, Eskenderella has four concerts for the month of July in various Egyptian towns. Starting July second and ending July 23rd. Some venues might be added later.

يوليو 2011، وهو
2 يوليو - الفن ميدان - ميدان عابدين الساعة 9.30
13 يوليو - المنصورة - قصر ثقافة النصورة - لم تحدد الساعة بعد
22 يوليو - الساقية - الساعة 8.30
23 يوليو- مسرح الجنينة - الساعة 8.


إسكندريلا صفحة جديدة

Arab Metal Music Bands

I never thought I would see the day where Arab bands perform metal music, needless to say there are many sub metal cultures that will not feel welcome in the Middle East. Early one the metal bands in places like Egypt were demonized (that's the whole point) They were linked to devil worship and weird acts. Back in college one of the students was a Jordanian who has abandoned his college education to go back to Amman to join back with his Metal band--he came back two years later.

While there are some truth to that, I think most of those accusations come form a place of ignorance and fear of the unknown. I know metal bands are welcome in places like Lebanon, Jordan and most recently Bahrain. Of course there are limits to what those band can get away with, but to make metal music in Arabic, it's magic.

When I first came to America, I hated this music, it's so loud, I thought. Then in some movies, the music was used so well, that I have acquired the taste for metal. Back in my running days, I used to listen to the British band Iron Maiden, I loved their "Mother Russia", I thought it was well done.

Here are few samples of Arabic metal including one track where the Middle East and orient have been incorporating into one song. Notice the incorporation of Arabic calligraphy in many forms. I feel like i am walking into a Hot Topic store. Do not know much about the history of calligraphy and metal, but I know it communicates something bold.

Again, I did not think the middle East have anything to offer to this very Western art form, but I now know it does. While not everyone in the West endorse metal music, some of them even fear it as much, but there is a lot more freedom here.


Narjahanam - Al Jihad (الجهاد) Arab Metal

Al Namrood - Fe Zafrat AlMout (LYRICS)

Al Qaynah - Ground Zero Pilgrims

Reportage On Arabic Alternative Music

Get to know about Eka3, find out from the founders of this movement in the Arab world for alternative music. These are the indie dudes and gals of Arabia. Future music caught up with the musicians behind this underground movement going mainstream. This is a report of interviews on a stunning number of musicians put together and asked to create something fresh.

If you are serious about Arabic music that is not pop and not old school, then you need to see this video montage of the most creative and most exciting bands and talents contributing to this free spirited well meaning movement.


eka3 on Mazaj - Future News, Featuring leka@eka3 and Takhabot

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Omar Kamel, One Stop Entertainment Shop

Omar Kamel works as a writer, a musician, a video director, graphic designer, and photographer. He is a powerhouse when it comes to entertainment, he can do it all and he does it all so well.

Omar is now preparing to release his first album of Arabic songs, provisionally titled ‘Mamnou3 El Initizar’. The tracklist so far includes the tracks ‘Shafshaq’, ‘El Wa7sh El Motamadin’, ‘Be3eed’, ‘Ghali’, ‘Tadrib’, and a few other tracks :)

Previous to this, Omar has released Shabaka, Egypt’s first electronic music album - created with Yanni Giovannos, as well as SunDance & Moonrise - two albums of dancy fusion instrumentals co-produced by Keti Sharif. Omar has also released two online collections - the freely downloadable electronic album titled “A Fish Called Valis” (under the name The Pink Beam Consortium) and “SeptiC”, and album of English Rock/Pop/Alternative tracks (under the bandname GoldFish Euphoria).

Omar has done work in social awareness and is also the owner and developer of Egypt Art Link (at http://www.egyptartlink.com) a website designed to serve as a hub for Egyptian artists and artists working with or interested in Egyptian artists. He is currently working on various musical projects as well as developing scripts for television & cinema productions.

Omar is an intellectual too, he cares and watches over his beloved Egypt. He is there to make entertainment smarter, and more appealing and he can do that with his multi-talents

Omar Kamel - Ghali

Sodfa Band Sings For Accidental Palestine

Sodfa band is one of Egypt Indie bands that has come to the stage most recently once Mubarak was kicked out. Doing a song for Palestine in both English and Arabic is a savvy way to offer Palestine including Gaza some love. Blessed that country that makes men and women like that who have bigger concerts for others who need their help.

The band is on the larger side, calling Palestine their address, and marching in what seems like the Egyptian desert heading toward the borders in the fashion of Saladin. Color me impressed this is the fruit of many hours of work and it pays off, the art and the work of indie artists has always been amazing. Just like this song it's coming form the heart and it gets to the heart.

Egypt IS BACK baby!

Song For Palestine 3enwany - Sodfa Band كليب عنوانى اغنيه لفلسطين


شايف صلاح الدين واقف على بابك حاشد جيوس ثوار واقفين على اعتابك
بيحطموا الاسوار الاف من الثوار خلونا ناخد حقنا خلا ص بقينا احرار
دخلوا على الاقصى وصلوا ركعتين
مشهد من القصه من العين
اوعدنا يا رب

Egyptian Despite all the Odds

This might sound like the opening for a Shakira song, there is that heavy guitar and Latin flavor, but this is an indie Egyptian song. The title is Egyptian against my will or Egyptian despite all the odds.

Rock band from Alexandria that presents social problems, As it's name implies it talks about the power imposed on the people. They mix rock, jazz and blues with an oriental touch presenting one of the most unique music in Egypt.

I am digging this new revolution, not only did it bring about political and social change, its rocking the world of Egyptian music, where synthetic pop is no longer the dominate force, there are other musical forces sweeping through that nation. A more democratic musical performance, no longer they are a one man show, it's the world of a band, just like democracy.

Massar Egbari - Bey2olly

Turn The Page With Eskenderella

To be an indie artists in Egypt is to be royal, the millions of people in that country are hungery for some fresh talents with new themes to explore....done with "I love You, You Love Me", My Eyes Love You crap, like Tamer Hosny does it, this time is for serious musicians.

Turn the page on old cliche and same old tired and help usher a new era with Eskenderella, one of the half dozen of indie bands that have been entertaining the masses in Cairo and around Egypt. The love boys lost, and the ones who loved Egypt and took bullets for that love, are now back...

Now is the time for love, the greater love, love of the land and its people, not just words, but a new mindset...enjoy it and get used to it.


Eskenderella - Saf7a Gedeeda (lyrics) اسكندريلا - صفحه جديده

West El-Balad Robabekya Album

If you have anything you feel like trading with someone else, or want to sell or buy .. this is a place where you can do so. Robabekya...that's also the title for the album of West El-Balad, the hottest indie band in Egypt. I found the album to be a mix between hip Western musical elements and new old musical concepts from Arabic music of the 50s.

So what do you so when you have the most popular revolution song and your band members are touring virtually the world with their music and message? You try to make some cash by putting out an album...so now comes the album of West El-Balad with some new material to give them hours of concert time.

Robabekya is vintage old school random stuff what you find at those second hand stores. But I have a feeling that this album is not second hand, it will be a best seller, I can already see the find prints... because we still need some indie music that expresses the pulse of the street.


Track List

01.Robabekya
02.Kol Youm
03.Ala Hesb Wedadak
04.Soal Wahed
05.Men Gowa Al Qahera
06.Aly
07.Ya Jzera
08.Aneqeni
09.El Garia Wel Sultan
10.Le Habibon

Did You Say Afghani Hipster?

No idea why this band has not made it big yet, but we all know that the entire world is talking about their country for all the wrong reasons. The Kabul Dreams by the Sadae man is rocking the world of Afghan entertainment, they are making their way all the way to countries like Iran and beyond


Kabul Dreams - Sadae man (Official music video)

Wust El-Balad Rocks Egypt's Concert Halls

Wust El-Balad is yet another indie band in Egypt that uses a unique blend of sounds. By combining a traditional Arabic Music with Modern and Western Twist, trying to make their music as accessible as possible - not just in Cairo but far beyond.

The band of 8 exciting musicians make up the Wust El Balad Band. With lead vocalists Hany Adel who has the honor of releasing the first post Mubarak hit song "Soot Alhoryah" While the band had few songs prior to the downfall of Mubarak, like Am Meena and Sahms Al Nahar, they were popular, but not huge like they are now where they tour around Egypt and many other worldly spots.

You know there is a new album in the works, and you know this album will be quite good and include many post Mubarak songs ushering the new age of Egyptian era. So far, they have been playing "Jazyrat Al Ahlam", Island of Dreams to be included in their upcoming album.

فريق وسط البلد - مسرح الجنينة - 8-5-2011