M For MUSIC: Balqees Fathi

When did you realize you were interested in music?

When I was 9 years old, I stop playing with my peers whenever my father would be playing Oud. I would go up to my dad and try to learn songs and memorize melodies and lyrics while he would be practicing and try to learn more about the world of music. I was considered to be an advanced child when it came to musicology and this is how we understood that I did have the talent of song and music. At the age of 10 my music teacher from school, took me under her wings when she pinpointed my exceptional voice and skill of retaining melodies and nurtured it more and more. And through extra hours of practice that she gave me that’s where my journey into the world of music started.

 

How has your family influenced you career as you come from an artistic family?

My family paved the path for my musical career, my father invested in my talent and was there to help me develop it. Although my mother was not very resolved about the fact that I would become a musician and artist once I grow up, this became somewhat of a challenge between her and myself. With time she became my biggest supporter and helped along with my father forge the essence of what being a true musical artist in me. Living in a musically cultured family that would listen to Fairouz and Oum Kalthoum every morning and during the day is a big influence in my path of becoming the artist that I am.

I see that the pandemic has changed our lives tremendously, it has allowed us to realize the importance of family bonds and connections. Now we have greater concerns to keep our ties and relationships flourishing even during the lockdowns and quarantines. The world has changed towards a more conservative economic aspect, people now have a better understanding of what are necessary purchases and what is important to their wellbeing.

How do you see the world post pandemic?

I see that the pandemic has changed our lives tremendously, it has allowed us to realize the importance of family bonds and connections. Now we have greater concerns to keep our ties and relationships flourishing even during the lockdowns and quarantines. The world has changed towards a more conservative economic aspect, people now have a better understanding of what are necessary purchases and what is important to their wellbeing. Our lives as artists have also changed as we are now more focused on sharing messages and content of positivity that helps uplift people and give them hope through music and performance.

 

How has the UAE inspired your career and your life?

The UAE has inspired my life all together you could say, being born and raised in Abu Dhabi and living in this forward thinking country a lot of my aspirations and goals were supported by the country that I hold very dearly to my heart. The endeavors of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak who is a great supported of women’s rights, gives me and all the women of the UAE a feeling of empowerment. This country has a sense of respect that you can feel towards its people and its residents, they support people who are extraordinary and successful especially as females which I believe is what the region needs the most currently. Everyday I feel more and more empowered and women break new grounds on all levels in the country through the help of our Sheikhs and the never ending support of HH Sheikha Fatima who is allowing women to live their era of empowerment in the UAE.

My main charities that I am currently working with are charities and organizations that help get children off the streets and secure them a better future, this topic has become very close and dear to my heart following giving birth to my son.

 

Which charities are you associated with currently?

My main charities that I am currently working with are charities and organizations that help get children off the streets and secure them a better future, this topic has become very close and dear to my heart following giving birth to my son. The motherly instinct in me has become so much stronger and I feel that I need to help even more now. Other charities that I am associated with are groups that deal with violence against women and empowering women, we are always pushing towards creating more laws that criminalize violence against women and laws that help protect women’s rights.

 

What next for Balqees?

I have just launched my 4th studio album, which is entitled “Hala Jadida” translating to “A New Me”, the album launched on the 2nd of February and all throughout the year I will be releasing every month a new song with content associated with it. For the first time I will be not be launching all the songs together, I want the audience to relish each song as its released and enjoy its content. We will be tackling many social topics in the songs and music videos I will release and you will see me performing in many styles and dialects.