Manal Rocks: Manal Benchlikha

L'Officiel Arabia: What are your favourite parts about your job?

Manal Benchlikha: My favorite part about my job is the process of creating, either the song itself or the music video. I find it super interesting to start something from scratch and make a whole project out of it, it can be notes on the piano, a rhythm, a picture, a memory, or a feeling. I’m so grateful to be able to create and having people trusting my vision around me is everything.

L'O A: What is something that people outside of your industry don’t know about your work?

MB: People don’t know that it’s an ordinary job with an extraordinary exposure. From outside, people may think that we live in a glamorous world 24/7, that we are always pretty, dressed by designers, that we travel the world… but the plot twist is that you make a lot of sacrifices to make your dreams come true, the sleepless nights, the doubts, you are always far from your family, you can never have a routine. But I would never imagine myself doing anything else. I’m so thankful to be able to fulfil my dreams, to share this journey with my husband and to live from it.

L'O A: You are in a very special place in your carrier right now, especially because you are one of the 4 Arabic female singers of the World Cup 2022 song. Describe your feelings right now.

MB: It’s an honor for me to represent my country and my art. Being part of this project was beyond all my expectations. I’ll forever cherish the memories we made, the people we met, to be able to collaborate with such amazing artists and to have the trust of RedOne who gave me this opportunity. Singing in the Moroccan dialect “Darija” made it extra special for me.

L'O A: What advice do you wish you had been given when you started out in the industry?

MB: I wish someone told me to have more confidence in myself and to trust my intuition.

L'O A: Did you encounter any negativity in the industry when you first started out?

MB: I understood that as a female artist i had to make twice or three times more effort to be respected and recognized. I find it regretful to have to prove yourself, your abilities, your talent and to be criticized for things that you shouldn’t normally be criticized for. But our time has come! And there’s no going back.