Folk and jazz with an Arabic style

Jul 22 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

PALESTINIAN singer Reem Kelani plays her first show as part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival tomorrow night.

The release of her acclaimed album, Sprinting Gazelle, is the latest milestone in a remarkable life.

Born in Manchester to Palestinian parents, she grew up in Kuwait before returning to London to study in the late 1980s.

She turned her back on a career in biology to become a professional musician, finally releasing her debut album two years ago.

When asked what took so long, she says: “I’m so worried about what I sing and what I want my message to be, musically and spiritually.

“Second, there was a great amount of family pressure. Some members of my family didn’t speak to me for years.

“The third element is that the powers that be are not interested in world music musicians if they are based here [in the UK]. On top of everything else, I’m a woman, and again, there’s no interest in a 44-year-old, eloquent woman who knows what she wants.”

Reem started performing when she was four and became profes- sional 20 years later. It took her an- other 20 years to perfect her album.

She performs at music festivals all over the world, with her mix of traditional Arabic folk accompanied by a jazz rhythm section.

“The most important thing for me is trying to find the common denominator, that link between what I’m presenting and the audience, on a more subtle level,” she says. Reem has been London-based since 1989, when she came over to continue her education. While here, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

“My whole life was turned upside down. I was cut off from my family, all my childhood photos were gone – I felt my first 24 years had been taken away. I decided you only live once, and I wanted to do music.”

Her family fled across the desert to Jordan, where they remained.

Turning her back on her career in science, she said, gave her a breakdown. “I’m not going to mince my words,” she said.

“I went through hell and back to turn professional. But it was something I always wanted to do.

“I can’t imagine my life without singing or music. It is a dream that has always been there.

“I don’t regret it. I’ve learned so much on this journey. Sometimes the things that take the longest hopefully, God willing, last the longest.”

* REEM KELANI performs at the Bluecoat tomorrow night.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk