Mawazine 2015 - El Roumi confirms new album and Sean Paul is working on a new album

We bring you the news from the Mawazine 2015 festival. Majida El Roumi is working on a new album, Assala Nasri says sola is ending and Sean Paul is working on a new album.

Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi. Sharif Karim / Reuters

Majida El Roumi has confirmed she is working on a new album. The Lebanese songstress, speaking from the Mawazine Festival in Morocco, said the new work will appear on shelves before the end of the year. “I have already done about four songs that I am really pleased with,” she says. “I have been working very hard at it and, God willing, I will have something for you late in the year.” The new release will explore a blend of classical Arabian music and orchestral Lebanese folk songs.

Assala Nasri says sola is ending

Assala Nasri has confirmed that the upcoming fourth season of her OSN music programme Sola will be the last. The Syrian singer said it was time to wrap up the show, where musical guests perform and are interviewed by Nasri on a set resembling a home majlis. She is now collaborating with her husband, the Palestinian-American director Tarek Al Eryan on a new talk show. “I want to fulfil one of my long-time career aims of doing a show that’s more interactive,” she says. “It will be different from Sola, with a live studio audience and with more discussion about issues I care about.”

New album for Sean Paul

Dance hall artist Sean Paul is working on a new album, his first as an independent artist. The 42-year-old parted ways with record label Atlantic after the release of his last album Full Frequency in 2014. While satisfied with his successful partnership with Atlantic, Paul admitted he would have done a few things differently. “I should have picked certain singles first,” he said. “Sometimes, with a major label, there are more people involved and it comes to a vote and the whole thing ends up straying from my gut feeling. I would have paid more attention to that.”