I love concept albums… They take the music, elevate the experience, and make it transcend being a collection of songs, evolving it into a journey…and we’re invited to get on board a new, unique, fresh, and absolutely mesmerizing one with Ziad Hisham’s latest EP “On A Personal Level”.
First things first, how about we get to know Ziad on a more…personal level, shall we say?
Egyptian musician and producer, based in London, Ziad wanted to do something different with his music…so he collaborated with artists from around the world to create a boundary-breaking, multicultural experience…he worked with artists from Cairo, Paris, and London, collaborating with Mohamed Abo Zekry, Doaa El Sebaii, Sarah Moullablad, Wiwii, and Luka.
Ziad started his musical journey in Egypt playing with some of the most iconic names, including the Shady el Qasseer group and the grammy award winner Fathy Salama.
Deciding to move to London to pursue a degree in music production and sound engineering…and the rest is history.
…we’ll see that his debut EP contains 6 songs…and there are 5 artists that we just mentioned, let me tell you why…you’ll get it right away…the first track is an instrumental one and is titled “Flying Solo”…we had an ‘aha!’ moment when we figured that out. Simply beautiful.
Speaking of “Flying Solo”…there is a nod to an iconic and nostalgic Egyptian song…if you’re Egyptian you might get it…did you guess it? It’s “Rahaal” by Hamid El Shaery, an absolutely excellent easter egg.
…that’s why I’m telling you, this EP transcends just being a musical product and takes flight being a journey.
“Flying Solo” also has some iconic microtonal guitar licks and melodies…it takes a more electro direction but the electric guitar leads the way, figuratively and literally.
Moving on to the second track, is a song titled “Warag El Fol” and it’s a collaboration with Doaa El Sebaii…the song’s name is translated in English to “Jasmine Leaves”, or literally “Arabian Jasmine Leaves”…it’s a fusion between the Egyptian folkloric and the electronic…brilliant.
Moving on to the third track “Mesh Hekaya Awy”, featuring artist Mohamed Abo Zekry…and goes of course for Ziad’s iconic fusion of electro and oriental…with the future electro and qanun making a very unique hybrid beast.
By the way, the qanun is a stringed instrument that is commonly used in oriental, egyptian, and Middle Eastern music…
Ziad then moves to the title track “On A Personal Level” a very unique mix of jazz/oriental violin Taksim and microtonal guitar melodies…this track is instrumental, featuring Wiwii.
Moving to “Eza”, it takes a melancholic mood, featuring Luka Salam…with iconic Middle Eastern percussive beats and Luka’s charismatic vocals…this is an absolute musical treat for the ears, heart, and soul…the piano and guitar intro is an absolute blast.
…unfortunately, like all good things it has to come to an end…we reach the last track in the EP, “El Ghayeb”, featuring Sara Moullablad…the song starts with a musical statement with its beat and melodic microtonal guitar licks…the electro is strong with this one…synth pads makes a more substantial presence here…and I want to add that this song has some amazing khaleeji polyrhythmic beats…with the electronic kick hitting every beat, moving like a locomotive, driving the beat and the energy of the song.
Ziad has achieved something unprecedented for the last 40 years, at least…
…he created a complete musical experience, focused, catchy, new, and fresh while breaking boundaries, getting people together…and simply making great music.
Being an Egyptian myself, I feel proud to know that such an influential and boundary-breaking artist like Ziad is also Egyptian and that his music reaches the whole world… Wishing Ziad all the best in life, he deserves it surely, and a lot more.
We can’t wait to see what Ziad comes up with next for the world to experience.
Cheers!