ArtView October 2013 | Page 26

western styles and values in music, or are there some distinctive elements? There is much more western influence. There are more Arabic artists collaborating with American rappers to keep their sound fresh. Many don’t like this, while others love it. I’m seeing more artists steer away from the traditional Arabic ballads to high tempo sounds that incorporate more western instruments, and I guess that’s a reflection of the globalisation of music around the world, and that’s a Haifa Wehbe beautiful thing – but sometimes that unique Middle Eastern sound fades into the background. It’s important to also note that western influences are seeping into he video clips of these songs as well. The female singers particularly are less conservative, and that’s a shift that’s developed in the last 10 years. There is also more choreographed dancing in videos and before that wasn’t as prominent. There are. You can tell the difference between music from the United Arab Emirates and music from Lebanon. The Lebanese songs are more drums-based whereas the lyrics and singing method of Emirati singers is slower, with a heavier accent that reflects their dialect. Those reflections of regions also appear in video clips. The khaliji singers will dress according to their traditional dress, whereas the Lebanese singers often reflect a western style. However, there is a crossover where Lebanese singers mimic other traditions, which is great for the fans to see – they love it because it’s ultimately the Arab world, not exclusive nations that they want to celebrate in dance and music. Is there a great deal of Arabic pop that comes from the diaspora/emigrant communities in Nancy Ajram countries like Australia? Are there any distinctive characteristics to the There isn’t much of that, however it’s slowly pop music that comes from various regions of the changing. There are many young Australians who Middle East, and do they reflect the culture of are now signing and trying to break into the music those regions? industry through English songs. However, they