Musicians in perfect harmony

40 years of the UAE: Modern Emirati artists are taking their influences from an ever-widening range of sources.

Munther Al Jennibi, an Emirati singer, says local artists often compete good-naturedly in penning the most stirring national songs. Courtesy of Imran Khalid

While the 40th anniversary of the UAE is a chance to admire the nation's rapid economic growth, the winds of change have also swept the music industry.

Where once Emirati music included stirring national and folkloric oud-driven compositions, Emirati artists now embrace rock, heavy metal and fusion as well as hip-hop and R&B.

They may have different muses, but according to Ali Al Mansoori, all showcase the UAE's cultural growth.

"It is a great thing because there is a great mix out there," he says.

"You listen to local songs now and there a lot of musical elements ranging from rhythms, instruments and dialects. That is good thing."

Al Mansoori, from Dubai, is famed as one of the country's leading folk singers.

With three albums released, he has been singing about UAE life for nearly a decade.

He says Emirati music has steadily grown from its desert roots to include flavours of many cultures.

"Now we use more drums and non-acoustic instruments like the guitar," he says.

"It is just a reflection of how the country is developing. It is the same when it comes to the music as well."

Munther Al Jennibi, from Abu Dhabi, also supports the evolution of local music. However, he believes some cultural lines should not be crossed.

"Sometimes you see artists using words from different dialects or English in their songs," he says.

"An example is that they may add the word 'OK' in there instead of the local dialect. I don't agree with that personally."

Born to a musical family including poets, composers and singers, Al Jennibi began playing the oud and keyboards at the age of 8 and singing for family and friends.

His sweet tenor was so renowned he was asked to represent the UAE in regional and international showcases.

Al Jennibi says local artists often compete good-naturedly in penning the most stirring national songs.

He says such songs separate Emirati artists from others in the region.

"A lot of us take pride in writing songs about the country," he says.

"We look at it as our responsibility in a way, to use occasions like National Day to lift the spirits. Our country is still young, we don't have a large history to draw on so these songs are important."

Another artist showcasing the UAE's cosmopolitan culture is known professionally as Hana.

Timeless Pulse, the Dubai artist's debut album, outsold the likes of Lady Gaga and Rihanna to top the charts in Qatar and Kuwait.

Her album peaked at number three in the UAE charts.

Recently she released Timeless Pulse Volume 2.

Both albums are instrumental, fusing Middle Eastern and world music with classical compositions. Hana says the album's mix reflects the country's appreciation of the outside world.

"We are a very open society," she says.

"In my music I often like to mix classical music with songs and rhythms from the Middle East and I feel in a way that I am exposing people to this music. I remember a person in a record store said he really liked this classical melody from one of the songs and it was actually Vivaldi's Winter [from The Four Seasons]. He didn't know it, but he enjoyed it and wanted to know more."

Marwan Parham also made a name for himself as a young local talent by spinning other people's tunes.

The 30-year-old Emirati, who performs under the moniker DJ Bliss, was the party-starter of choice in last week's Beats on The Beach festival, part of Yasalam.

He recently released his debut single, Everything About You, featuring the Saudi R&B artist Ayzee, and has been performing in clubs in Europe and the US.