Forward

ZOOM ON... THE ‘WEHDE’ Over the years, Saleh’s voice has made distinguished appearances, notably in Nadine Labaki’s ‘Caramel’ in which she sings the theme song ‘Mreyte Mreyte’ composed by Walid Mouzannar. (Saleh has also written the lyrics for Labaki’s new movie ‘And now, Where to?’ scheduled to come out this summer). Tania Saleh is an interesting artist in the Arab musical scene. Fiercely indepen- dent, she has carved out a unique niche for herself in the music industry. Her lyrics are often satirical, calling for politi- cians to grow up for instance (‘Ya Wled’) or dreaming of a more harmonious future for Lebanon. The topic of her forthcoming album is ‘Wehde’, which connotes the union of all Lebanese. As for her musical influences, her ins- piration is drawn from the West with a firm base of oriental music, notably the ‘tarab’. Saleh mixes jazz and rock, along with oriental instruments and rhythms. The result, tinged with a hint of nostalgia, sounds authentic, stea- ring clear from the common format- ting and simplifications most Arab singers are often subject to. In other words, she is characterized as the truthful, original and creative singer we love. At a time when the Middle East is going through its own political turmoil and Lebanon drowns in its usual complexity, ‘Wehde’, based on a rich musical heritage, is an endearing call for a better world.