No'oum Nasyeen by Youssra El Hawary

This album is the culmination of five years of hard-work (and a fair share of play) by the band. It also features Youssra’s first collaboration with producer and mixer Adham Zidan whose input to the project added a lot to the arrangements of the band. Zidan helped develop the music without compromising its soul and essence, thereby producing it in the best form possible.

A primary characteristic of this project is the collaborative spirit which drove its progress from the very beginning, starting with the inspired group of musicians that make up the band. Their passion and ambition as they worked together with Youssra for years allowed their music to evolve, as they came to develop a deeper understanding of their own instruments and create a collective sound for the band as a whole.

This spirit guided how the album should be funded as well. A large part of the production expenses of this album came through contributions by friends and fans via a crowdfunding campaign launched specifically for this purpose. This makes No’oum Nasyeen the first album to be funded by the Egyptian audience after several similar successful projects in other regions of the Arab world. The choice to produce the album through crowdfunding allowed the band to ensure their independence and left no room for musical compromise set by the market or production companies.

Youssra El Hawary is an Egyptian accordionist, composer, songwriter, and singer who has been composing her own songs since 2011: a satirical mix of storytelling with social and political commentary. Early on in her career, she would take to the stage only with her accordion, but over the years, she has gathered around her a unique group of musicians who have helped her develop her musical vision.

youssraelhawary.com