Ghazi Abdel Baki: Music Man

by ASPIRE

Ghazi Abdel Baki: Music Man

Musician, composer, producer and businessman Ghazi Abdel Baki is the driving force behind one of Lebanon's most successful record labels. By following his passion for music, he has played a vital role in helping to establish Beirut's vibrant music scene.

"Without music life is not worth living", says Ghazi Abdel Baki. "It's an integral part of our lives and such a subtle art form. Everyone derives something from it. For some, it helps them to dream or escape their realities. For others, it lets them focus. It's a fantastic parallel universe and that's why we need to do it right."


DJ LETHAL SKILLZ

by RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY

DJ LETHAL SKILLZ

Smoking narguileh in a Hamra Café, DJ Lethal Skillz is instantly recognisable. The DJ, producer and renowned turntablist is a well-known ambassador of arabic hip hop, the founder of “hip hop family” 96! Underground, and rarely goes a week without a gig, born in ‘76, he fell in love with hip hop while practicing the moves from classic sos film “Breakin” in his father’s video store after watching Erbie Hancock’s “Rocket” on tv he started DJ-ing at school discos (using cassette tapes, he’s that old school) and has never looked back.


GHAZI ABDEL BAKI-FORWARD MUSIC

by RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY

GHAZI ABDEL BAKI-FORWARD MUSIC

Forward Music's studio is on the move. In the process of transferring to a new location in music venue DRM in Hamra, producer Ghazi Abdel Baki hopes to enhance that love for the live sounds that makes Forward's releases so distinct and plans to release 10 to 15 albums in 2012.

WHEN DID FORWARD'S STUDIO OPEN?
The Studio is the cornerstone of DRM and Forward Music at the same time. It started in 2001 when we built the studio. It developed into a music label, then into artist representation, and eventually into the live venue of DRM. That's the evolution.


Elie Rizkalla's interviewed by Natalie Shooter..."Something Not Personal"

by Timeout Beirut

Elie Rizkalla's interviewed by Natalie Shooter..."Something Not Personal"

Lebanese singer Elie Rizkallah shares his thoughts on the importance of preserving Lebanon’s musical heritage, before releasing his new CD ‘Shi Mesh Shakhsi’.


Rencontre avec Charbel Rouhana; Vivre l'instant présent, même en musique...

by Mondanite magazine

Rencontre avec Charbel Rouhana; Vivre l'instant présent, même en musique...

Charbel Rouhana talks about his past, present and future in an interview with Olga Haddad Issa.


Interview with Toufic Farroukh in The Daily Star

by The Daily Star - Jim Quilty

Interview with Toufic Farroukh in The Daily Star

Lebanese jazz composer Toufic Farroukh talks about how he came to his new-old sound

One of Lebanon's most significant contributions to the international music landscape (aside from dabkeh, of course) is "Oriental jazz" a clever blend of Western jazz modalities and improvisation conventions with those of the Arabic classical tradition.
One of the pioneers of Lebanon's Oriental jazz, along with Ziad Rahbani and Rabih Abu Khalil, is Toufic Farroukh. That's not to say he's very fond of the term.


"Cinéma Beyrouth" in three answers

by L'orient Le Jour

"Cinéma Beyrouth" in three answers

Le compositeur libanais est de retour après Tootya, opus paru en 2007, avec Cinéma Beyrouth. Quelques heures avant le premier de ses deux concerts à Beyrouth, il se raconte en trois questions à travers ce dernier disque...

Que souhaitez-vous transmettre avec ce nouvel album?


Ghazi Abdel Baki in an interview with L'Orient Le Jour announcing DRM- Democratic Republic of Music

by L'orient Le Jour, Diala Gemayel

Ghazi Abdel Baki in an interview with L'Orient Le Jour announcing DRM- Democratic Republic of Music

Ghazi Abdel Baki, fondateur et président du label Forward Music qui fête cette année son dixième anniversaire, a inauguré hier soir, en plein cœur de Hamra, Democratic Republic of Music (DRM)*, la salle de concerts qu'il ambitionnait d'ouvrir depuis 2006.


Interview with Toufic Farroukh

by Agenda Culturel; Nasri Sayegh

Interview with Toufic Farroukh

Les voyages de Toufic Farroukh sont multiples. Destinations et escales se succèdent et se confondent. De Paris à Fairouz en passant par Le Oud, Le Caire, Le Req ou encore Le Ney, les pérégrinations de ce saxophoniste 'orienté' cultivent des mélanges inédits. Les styles s’égrènent au fil des notes : sa portée se posera le jeudi 2 et vendredi 3 juin au DRM pour jouer son dernier opus, 'Cinéma Beyrouth'. Jouer du Sax' ? Jouer du Beyrouth ? Qu’est-ce qui vous fait jazzer Monsieur Farroukh ? Entretien désorienté.


Interview with Ghazi Abdel Baki: The Democratic Republic of Music in 3 Answers

by Agenda Culturel

Interview with Ghazi Abdel Baki:  The Democratic Republic of Music in 3 Answers

Un nouvel espace vient de voir le jour: le DRM, ou Democratic Republic of Music ouvre ses portes le 1er juin. Située à la rue Sourati à Hamra, la salle de concert montée par la boîte Forward Music se veut être une plateforme pour les artistes locaux et internationaux. Ghazi Abdel Baki, directeur et fondateur de Forward Music, répond à nos questions.

Pourquoi Democratic Republic of Music?
Parce que c’est ce que nous sommes! Par démocratie nous voulons dire diversité mais aussi intégration et acceptation de l’autre. Nous voulons, à chaque concert, proposer une forme différente de musique.