UAE based singer-songwriter Nile talks about his new True Definition and upcoming album

Sudanese singer Nile, who grew up in the UAE, raised eyebrows when he appeared on the Arabic version of The Voice performing in English.

Sudanese singer Nile. Courtesy Nile

The new single and video is called True Definition.

“Basically it’s a love song. It’s talking about the ‘true definition’ of what a relationship is, and what love is. So after you’ve been through a bad relationship, and then going to a good one, you have a different perspective. You could say it’s inspired by personal ­experience.”

The 32-year-old picked up his first guitar when he was 15, but it was a few years later before he found his musical voice.

“It was at 19 that I knew this was what I wanted to do forever. I got into music through hip-hop – I ­really wanted to be a rapper at that time. Then I switched to singing. My first song came in about 2001 – I wrote these ­political songs about the situation in Sudan at that time. The whole situation was pretty bad, and I got really excited and decided to write lyrics and songs addressing that.”

He was raised in the UAE and went to school in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. But he says to make it in the music business, he had to leave.

“To get into music – you can’t really call it an industry because it’s still very young – there aren’t many outlets [in the UAE] for artists to expose their talents to the world. It’s been quite difficult, I’ve done lots of touring to find my way around and find my fan base. There needs to be more events for new artists, and very well-focused record labels.”

Nile picked up lots of new fans when he appeared on MBC’s ­Arab-world version of The Voice last year – despite the fact that he sings in English.

"The Voice gave me huge ­exposure, even though the show was in Arabic. The producers contacted me because they saw a couple of videos online and asked me to take part. At first I didn't believe so much in talent shows, but I gave it a shot anyway – and it turned out to be OK. But still, I have other issues. Most of these new fans I was exposed to have different expectations. Many of them think I should be singing in Arabic. But I have no regrets."

He also performed in front of Will.i.am, Timbaland and ­Quincy Jones at the first Dubai Music Week in 2013, but lost out on the chance to be produced by Jones when the panel ­unanimously voted Lebanese singer Xriss Jor the winner. UAE-based musicians Jay Wud, ­Hamdan Al-Abri and DD Foxx also competed.

"To be honest, I wasn't happy about the result – but nobody was happy. We were told to come on the show and sing our original song, and she was the only contestant singing a cover song [Listen by Beyoncé]. We did our best."

His debut album, due for ­release this year, promises a new sound that blends US-flavoured R&B with traditional Sudanese rhythms.

“I’m pretty much finished – but there’s no title yet. I’m trying to bring something different so it doesn’t just sound like any ­other album out there. Growing up I listened to a lot of 1990s hip-hop and R&B, and also the new soul music from artists such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu. So I’m trying to blend all these sounds together and create a kind of fusion of this musical background with my Sudanese musical heritage. It’s difficult [to achieve], but I think it will be kind of amazing. I think I’ll be able to pull it off.”

• Find out more and watch the video of True Definition at www.facebook.com/Nilemusic