More than 15 years were spent on the album of the Emirati artist Salama Al Mazrouei, Locked in the Drawers, before its owner finally decided, this year, to release it through her official account on the “YouTube” platform, to achieve the public success and expected acclaim among the followers of the artist, whose absence from the singing scene has increased to more than 15 years. For 20 years, during which she moved between the worlds of media, drama, and cinema, all the way to experiments with “dubbing,” “cartoon” series, and other diverse creative fields that she succeeded in delving into.
Strong comeback
Al Mazrouei confirmed to Emirates Today that her return to the singing scene today stems from her sincere desire to bring to mind her most prominent field of specialization, which is music, which she studied in Cairo. At the beginning of her career, she released a group of selected songs that resonated clearly with the audience, stressing: “He encouraged me.” Colleagues in the artistic community supported this step through which I decided to revive the Tarab song stemming from the roots of the rhythms and maqams of the music of the Arabian Peninsula. On the other hand, my husband, producer Saeed Bakhit Al Mansouri, pushed me to present this comprehensive artistic work, which for me contains five musical and lyrical surprises that suit the taste of lovers of beautiful words and melodious tunes. All the songs of the album, titled “The Latest News of My Heart,” were recorded in Yemen, with the help of a number of players and musicians from the band of the late artist Abu Bakr Salem, who came specifically to Yemen to participate in the recording, along with a number of creative people from Yemen and the Emirates.
Public taste
Regarding the reasons for her delay in releasing the songs of the Tarabai album for so long, Salama revealed her desire to be patient and not release these types of songs during a period in which fast rhythmic songs prevailed, saying: “I was not in a hurry, as these types of songs, as my husband said, are like… Antique gold must be preserved and presented at the appropriate time to be the most beautiful gift for its lovers.
Regarding the details of her dealings in this album, with artistic names in poetry and melodies, Al Mazroui paused when trying out the song “My Beloved, If Your Heart Was Hard” by the poet Aidaroos Othman Baalawi, and the poet Aidaroos Alawi in the song “Oh You Who Have Love,” saying: “This is a testimony I cherish.” I am proud that my Tarbi album includes songs written by these two great poets. I was also pleased to deal with the late poet and composer Ahmed Muftah in terms of lyrics and melodies, and the composer Ali Bahsain, alongside the creative Emirati poet Amer Al Kathiri.
Eastern shrines
Regarding recording the songs for her album in Yemen, she stated: “For me, it was like a challenge, especially since I loved restoring the brilliance of ancient maqams and rhythms, some of which date back more than 3,000 years, as happened in the song (From Your Dreams), whose lyrics were written by the Emirati poet Amer Al Kathiri. It was composed by Ali Bahsin, while the four songs were composed with the melody of “Al-Dan,” which is an old melody dating back to the 10th century AD for which the Hadhramaut region in Yemen was famous.
Regarding the audience’s interaction with her new album, Al Mazrouei pointed to the positive feedback that the album recorded less than two weeks after the release of all its songs, stressing her happiness with the increase in the number of followers of her official YouTube channel to exceed more than 3,000 viewers in less than a week, adding: “I hope That I have succeeded in presenting a musical work bearing the titles of the beautiful era, and that translates my approach towards presenting an artistic color that distances itself from the wave of popular commercial songs and albums on the one hand, and registers its different presence on the local and Arab scene on the other hand.”
Singing in English
Emirati artist Salama Al Mazrouei revealed the release of a new song in English this time, titled “Beyond Death,” in conjunction with the launch of her latest Tarab album, considering it a first step in the right direction towards achieving her great artistic goals and ambitions.
