Visuals of war-torn cities and buildings in ruins, and references to the Syrian refugee crisis – the music video for Crazy World, the latest single by Lebanese singer DD Foxx, is nothing if not ambitious and topical.
“Life is beautiful and I am truly blessed, but we really are living in a crazy world,” says the 29-year-old Lebanese singer at the launch of the video in Dubai on Monday. “There is so much conflict and so many tragedies happening all around us: wars, bombings, people going hungry, losing their homes. It affects everyone.
“That is what this song and this music video are talking about. If it makes someone think about it for even a little while … that is what I want the song to do. I hope it touches the hearts of people out there.”
The song, DD Foxx's first release since her debut album Had to Be Me in 2012, came out in February, and is playing on local and regional radio stations.
“I had been working on this song in the studio for quite a while and because it was so close to my heart, I wanted to do something different, something special with it,” says Foxx.
A chance encounter with Emirati singer Abdulla Bel Khair got things moving.
“I think it was destiny that brought us together,” says Foxx, with a laugh, about the chance encounter and how it led to talk about a collaboration.
It is an interesting pairing: a young and hip singer who performs exclusively in English, with an established more traditional vocalist who sings only in Arabic.
Add in a three-decade age-gap and one wonders how the thought of a collaboration even occurred to Foxx.
“There are no age or language barriers for music,” says Foxx. “I could be working with an artist who is my age and sings in my language and my genre, but we might not click in the studio.
“The minute Abdullah Bel Khair and I met, I just knew we could make something really good together. I had already recorded some portions of the song and then I recorded some portions with him. Working with him in the studio was such a great experience.”
The result is a bilingual, easy-listening pop track that tackles global issues, which Foxx hopes will appeal to people of all ages.
The video was shot in Ras Al Khaimah over two days and features both singers alongside locally cast extras – including Foxx’s mother.
“It was a really hectic and tiring shoot,” says Foxx. “We shot from 5am till 8pm on the first day. But despite the long hours, all of us enjoyed it and the result speaks for itself.”
The video for Crazy World is now available on YouTube, and will soon play on local and regional TV as well.
Foxx is now preparing for her next single, due for release in a couple of months, followed by her second album.
“I have a lot of songs recorded for the second album already,” she says. “I am still recording some more, though, because I want to get the perfect mix.
"Crazy World and my next upcoming single may or may not be on the album … I still haven't made up my mind. But towards the end of the year, you better watch out for my second album release."
artslife@thenational.ae
