From music production to humanitarian work, Hisham Kharma seems to be involved inĀ it all. The self-taught musician, who rose to the limelight after theĀ release of his first album, First Voyage, has had much more on his plate lately. In addition to his album with Sonyā€™s Arabesque music project that includes the legendary Yanni, heā€™s also releasing an inspiring music video in collaboration with other popular Egyptian musicians and preparing for a live performance next month. We stole some time from his busy schedule and chatted with Hisham about all of his upcoming projects.

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You have a lot going on in your career right now; what are you most excited about and why?

AtĀ this phase,Ā I’m particularly excited aboutĀ the music video ā€œSahla w Basitaā€ which is very close to my heart as it promotes happiness and gratitude. Iā€™m veryĀ enthusiasticĀ about this specific project because Iā€™m directing it as well. Of course, Iā€™m really looking forward to the live performances, as I havenā€™t been on stage for 15 years now.

Tell us more about the music video.

It’s a new track/music video called ā€œSahla w Basitaā€ featuring Hany Adel, Nesma Herky, May Abd el Aziz and Abdel Rahman Roshdy, written by Nesma El-Shazly, composed and directed by myself.Ā The purpose and message behind it is to spread happiness and gratitude. It’s very upbeat and cheerful but with an interesting twist. It will be released next week.

IMG_0360What was it like working with the music video team?

It was a lovely experience full of positive energy and passion. There was huge chemistry among the entire team whether musicians, writers or production crew. We were all working in harmony towards creatingĀ a good piece of art.

Does working with individuals like these make you more hopeful for the future of music in Egypt?

Of course it does, especially when youā€™re all in sync and working for the same purpose. I have lived abroad in Dubai, Germany, and the States, and have found that it’s never greener on the other side. Everywhere has the good and the bad, so you have to find happiness wherever you are. For me, makingĀ other people happy is what makes me happy.

IMG_0344Why do you think everyone always assumes the grass is greener on the other side? Why do you say it isnā€™t? What are some ways that people can be more satisfied with where they are? How does your music help them/you do that?

Because it’s the human nature to sometimes think that their current state is the worst state. I do believe that individuals are capable ofĀ creating their own happiness by starting from within in spite of their circumstances. My music could be just a small tool that could relieve them from their concerns, even if for a short while, or inspire them and uplift their mood in any way. For me, that would be the true success of my music.

There was a lot of hype around Yanniā€™s recent visit to Egypt. You collaborated with Yanni onĀ the Arabesque Project, can you tell us about it?

It’s an initiative by Sony Music Entertainment Middle East, which highlights remarkably talented artists who truly represent their part of the world. The first releases of the collection are works of three composers from three different countries, Yanni ā€“ An Evening in Athens, Can Atilla ā€“ Nights in Istanbul, and Myself ā€“Sunset on the Nile. The Arabesque Project is the first Sony Music release where an Egyptian artist collaborates with international artists. It was a global project where they introduce different musical cultures and influences under one umbrella. It was released in the Middle East and the rest of the world about a year and a half ago but unfortunately didnā€™t reach Egypt.

IMG_0285There are 16 tracks on your album; what was the inspiration behind them?

The inspiration behind them is the passion for fusing different cultures together through music without barriers. Itā€™s as if I traveled around the world taking bits and pieces from every culture and putting them together in my own musical form. This is why I love Fusion music, because it helps me come up with new musical ideas without any restrictions and barriers. Iā€™m also very passionate about mixing our own ethnic/oriental instruments with electronic sounds and grooves.

Did you meet Yanni before he came to Egypt? What was it like meeting him?

I havenā€™t met Yanni before he came to Egypt; meeting him was of course a great experience. He’s a very humble and true musician; Ā he’s one of my music idols.

What about your upcoming live show, what can we expect?

After my first album, I started preparing and composing more sophisticated and orchestrated tracks preparing for a live show. Itā€™s been five years of preparing and building a strong team of musicians. Weā€™ve been rehearsing for the past two years. The first pilot event is on December 17th and others will follow. The performance should be an hour and a half to two hours. In this duration, I want the audience to just come into the venue and leave their worries behind, disconnect for two hours from the outside world and just go onĀ a journey with the music.

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Most of your tracks are only music without any lyrics, why is that?

I love music; it’s a universal language that everyone can understand and connect to regardless of their race, ethnicity or religion. Also, I love conveying my emotions through music where each listener can interpret in their very own way by creating their own stories with their imagination, without forcing a certain meaning through lyrics.

You’ve also had a hand in humanitarian work, can you tell us about ‘Law 3andak Dam’?

I have a passion to mix humanitarian work with art. Law3andakDam.com startedĀ when one of my uncles was hospitalized a while ago and needed blood. We couldnā€™t find any and discovered the corruption in the market; I decided someone had to do something to help. I’m not a doctor, so instead used my background in advertising and computer science. During the revolution, everyone needed blood and everyone was on social media like Facebook, so it made sense to createĀ an online network. I made an online portal that matches donors with recipients. It sends mass messages for blood types needed and has proved very helpful. ‘Law 3andak Dam’ is a colloquial term that literally means ā€œif you have blood,ā€ but has come to mean ā€œif you have a conscience.ā€

If you had to describe the overall purpose of your career, what would you say?

To use my talent, skills and creativity, to give back to my community by collaborating with good people, really talented musicians and like-minded individuals. In short, to try to help as much as possible, through music and art and always convey a strong and meaningful message that could inspire masses.

 

Ā©Photography by Emma El-Hawary

Ā©Art Direction by Nesma El-Shazly