Awakening

Maher’s first musical inspiration came from his father, who was a singer himself, performing locally in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Tripoli - Lebanon. Fascinated by the music and instruments, Maher got his first keyboard when he was only ten and ever since music officially became part of Maher’s world. The fa...mily moved to Sweden when Maher was only 8, where he continued his schooling, and later entered university and got a Bachelors degree in Aeronautical Engineering. With things changing around him, one thing remained the same - his strong passion for music. He would spend late nights at school with his friends where they would sing, rap, compose and experiment with music in every way. It didn’t take him long to realize that music became an integral part of who he is. After being involved for a while in the music scene in Sweden as a music producer, Maher was introduced to RedOne, a gifted music producer who was fast rising in the music scene in Sweden. Maher started working with RedOne with Swedish artists, and later moved with him to New York. For a few years he was in the middle of the hot rush of the NY music industry, working with chart topping artists such as Kat Deluna on her debut album which included smash hits ‘Whine up’ and ‘Run the Show’. Maher had what many would describe as a dream job for someone so young in such a glamorous business, but for Maher it felt like this was far from what he would call ‘the dream’, “I loved the music but I hated everything that surrounded it, it always felt like something wasn’t right”. RedOne was on the verge of breaking into the big time, going on to work with artists like Akon, Lady Gaga, Enrique Iglesias, Brandy, New Kids on the Block, and Michael Jackson to mention just a few, and becoming one of the most sought-after music producers in the world. Maher however was restless and eventually decided that the music industry and all that surrounded wasn’t the right place for him and he returned to Sweden. It wasn’t until he met a group of brothers who were active in the Islamic community in Stockholm and he started regularly attending his local mosque that he felt like he’d reached ‘home’. Maher feels blessed to able to finally find the right way, and feels like it’s his turn now to help others through his music to do the same: “If I had one thing I’d like to tell people out there it would be that it’s so easy to see the right way if we just open our eyes and look properly; that’s what happened to me.”Read More

Vocal extraordinaire Mesut Kurtis is now being called one of the biggest stars of nasheed and Islamic Music. His unforgettable rendition of the Burdah and the music video for it have become modern-day classics. Every so often, in the midst of countless artists that often sound the same, a breath of fresh air rolls aro...und. A glimmering light sometimes explodes through the dark seas of redundant and over-recycled music. And sometimes, when we need it most, we find a movement that transcends music to a higher level. Exactly where do you fit an artist that can belt out a rhythmic song like ‘Allahu Allah’ that will make you tap your feet, and also have the ability to touch the rawest emotions and reduce the listener to tears with songs like ‘O Allah’ and give a note-perfect rendition of Imam Al-Busairi’s famous ‘Burdah’ all rolled into one? The answer is both nowhere and everywhere. The truth of the matter is that Mesut Kurtis is just an artist with an incredible voice who doesn't accept being confined to one style, mood, or category. It is possible that there are singers alive today with more passion, conviction and beauty than Mesut Kurtis singing nasheeds today, but it's doubtful. Ever since the release of his debut album Salawat, the glory-giving soprano has built for himself a very wide fan-base, being a favourite of listeners of all ages.Read More