Recently international pop/rock artist Jaafar performed during a showcase at the ROXY in West Hollywood.
The Jordanian artist performed 9 never before heard tracks off of his highly anticipated debut album, Folktales of Spring. The first single off the album, “Sixteen” seamlessly blends traditional eastern sounds with western pop/rock and tells the story of a 16 year old girl in a war torn area who is dreaming of a better tomorrow with the hope of reaching her 18th birthday. The artist has topped music charts with his unique ability to deliver irresistibly catchy melodies while discussing the very real but sobering issues surrounding the Syrian Civil War and refugee crisis in his home country, Jordan. Read our exclusive interview with him below:
How did you get your start in music?
I’ve always known that music is what I want to do with my life. I started singing at a very young age in school, and ever since then the seed had been planted. After I graduated high school is when I really started to work on it as a career path. I’ve been either in a studio recording music or out performing music of my own ever since then. My first break was on a national Jordanian level when I released a single, my first ever, a couple of years back. It was one of those things that was unexpected and really took off.
Tell us about your upcoming project?
I’ve been recording my debut album ‘Folktales of Spring’ for over a year and a half now. Hopefully that will be released early next year. I’m really proud of this body of work. It’s the album I’ve always wanted to make. I feel like I’ve come in to myself as an artist while writing and recording these songs. I think people will get a better feel for who I am after listening to ‘Folktales’. I can’t wait for it to be out in the world!
There aren’t many crossover artists from Jordan, how do you feel to be paving the way?
I guess I’ve never really thought about it in that way to be honest. I’m happy and proud to represent Jordan and Jordanians that’s for sure. I hope that opens doors for others to be able to do the same in the future.
What’s your songwriting process like?
It varies, but I’m usually trying to get the lyrics up to par with the melody. Melodies usually come to me with some sort of lyric and I try to always stick to what those lyrics are trying to say. That can be tricky. For this album though I’ve really spent a lot of time and effort on lyrics. I wanted the Lyrics to be more poetic and less conversational which was how I had previously approached lyrics.
What musicians do you look up to / admire?
Sting was the first Western musician I remember looking up to. I kind of discovered rock music through him and the Police. But there are so many like Tom Petty, Phil Collins and Cat Stevens to name a few. Those artists shaped my songwriting sensibility. There’s also a lot of Middle Eastern artists’ I admire too. Umm Kalthoum, Nazem Al Ghazali, Fairouz… As well as modern acts like the Rai artists.
Who are your favorite producers?
That’s a tough one. For me, working with a producer needs to be something that happens naturally. I always co-produce all my own music so it needs to be someone who I can work with easily and that brings something to the table that I don’t. I’m not into working with a mega-producer just to have their name on the credits. That said, Jimmy iovine, who no longer produces and is a huge music mogul now, is someone I would’ve loved to work with on a musical level. He did ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I also love his work with Patti Smith, U2… All beautiful records. Call me!
Tell us about your style!
My music is a fusion of east and west, and I think that would also best describe my style in every sense of the word.
Photo credit: Jeff Bender