Widely known in the Arabic-speaking world, Rola Azar always dreamed about achieving her full potential through music. Born in Nazareth, she moved to Jerusalem in a quest for better opportunities and education and went to study music at the Jerusalem Academy of Dance and Arts. Besides expressing her personality through the music she is also passionate about acting, having played the lead role in the movie The Ring Of Engagement together with the star Hassam Taha.
For such a young musician, Azar only 28, she already accomplished plenty of things in her artistic career regardless of the difficulties she faces living in Jerusalem as a Palestinian singer. “We don’t have producers or companies to work with, also we don’t have international radio/television. Palestine is just not international.”, she reflects. For Azar, recording an album in Lebanon with famous local musicians was a dream coming true, and she hopes to keep expressing herself through her music and being a positive influence for younger generations.
Although Palestinian musicians suffer from prejudice from the Western world as biased media paint a negative picture of the country and the population as Alar explains. “People around the world have the wrong idea about Palestinians like we are all terrorists.” Because of this discriminatory view about Palestine, musicians such as Azar have a hard time to get visas to travel around the world to support upcoming tours and shows. Even though she played in several countries such as Lebanon, Jordaan, Qatar, United Kingdom, and the United States the process is troublesome as she explains. “The conflicts between Israel and Palestine make it hard to travel to Lebanon for instance luckily I was able to make my first album in Lebanon.”
Read below the 6 questions we asked Rola and get ready for the first Delia Sessions this week.
1 – How would you describe yourself and your work for those who don’t know you yet?
I am a 28 years old independent singer from Palestine. I studied music at the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance and I also teach music.
The most important to me is to sing songs with a message. I perform traditional and classical songs, and my music has a lot of influences from Jazz. I love to explore the fusion between Jazz and traditional Arabic music.
2 – When did you decide to become a musician?
My dad is a singer therefore music was always present at home. I have been singing since I was a kid. After graduating from High School, I decided to pursue music professionally.
3 – What inspires you?
My love for music, the people around me and my family.
4 – What are your biggest music influences?
I have a very diverse range of influences that range from the Lebanese singer Fairuz to a pop star such as Beyoncé.
5 – Which accomplishments are you most proud of?
My first album, that I recorded in Lebanon which incorporates influences from Jazz with Arabic music.
(E.N.: You can listen to it on the embeded player here ???)
6 – What’s your biggest dream as a musician?
I have lots of dreams! I want to write several songs, to achieve international success so people all around the world can hear my music.
Rola Azar’s Delia Sessions concert will be available from this Thursday, February 6. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and don’t miss out!