Elizabeth Ayoub

Singing in various languages comes natural to her – though born in Venezuela, she considers herself a “citizen of the world.” She sings, with conviction and emotion, heartfelt songs sometimes of folk quality, mostly of worldly sophistication. Often compared Norah Jones and Lebanese diva Fairuz, with each song she creates a rich tapestry of images, a journey for the listener to relish. She believes in the healing power of music. “People all over the world write to me, from teens to older ... [ more ] Singing in various languages comes natural to her – though born in Venezuela, she considers herself a “citizen of the world.” She sings, with conviction and emotion, heartfelt songs sometimes of folk quality, mostly of worldly sophistication. Often compared Norah Jones and Lebanese diva Fairuz, with each song she creates a rich tapestry of images, a journey for the listener to relish. She believes in the healing power of music. “People all over the world write to me, from teens to older folk, on how my songs have healed them and made them feel at ease, in these most-distracting, twitter-facebook times.” As for music and its power to shift boundaries, she is more insightful: “Politicians create borders, artists break them down with music. There’s nothing more liberating and moving than music to unite human souls.”

The youngest daughter of Lebanese immigrants, she was thrust into an environment where three different languages were freely spoken and where her musical influences ranged from Koranic verse and Fairuz, to Simon & Garfunkel and Barbra Streisand.

Her first self-produced album, Prelude, was a labour of love created with the careful selection of world-class musicians from the Latin and Arab world – from Grammy-award winning Bacilos drummer JJ Freire, to world class Cuban bassist Jose Armando Gola, to guitarist-extraordinaire Jose Elias, ending with maestro, oud player Bassam Saba, who once played with the diva Fariuz.

“I really consider myself a storyteller. A lot of the songs I write are stories, coming from my experiences – but also from observing people, their lives, the joy and sadness of the little things that fill up our lives.”

It was Prelude that thrust her onto the world stage and landed her on the airwaves of BBC, thanks to the grace of the seasoned Charlie Gillett. It was Gillett who included her song, YA OUD, to the 2007 Sound of the World Compilation, an honour Elizabeth relishes to this day. “He was one a one of kind DJ – I don’t think anyone will ever fill his shoes. I’m sure I join the millions who miss him.” It was also Gillett who introduced her to her future label and agency, World Connection and Times Square Records, who signed her after watching her perform in Detroit at the Arab-American National Museum. She got busy creating songs for her second album, when she realised she was sensing flamenco in her music.

“And then, as if God was trying to play clever, my agent called and said Javier Limon (Grammy-award winning producer, Buika and Bebo & Cigala’s Lagrimas Negras) was interested in working with me on the album. Many months later, between Madrid and Beirut, Oceanos y Lunas emerged.

In her travels, singing and sharing her stories of longing, love and life, she marvels at the stories listeners and past-audience members share with her along the way. “It’s a bond you forge with people, you know? In their private homes, in their spaces, in the lives they share with others, you are a part of all that. It’s beautifully humbling. It’s another facet of Love, the only thing that really matters in Life.” [ less ]

From

Beirut, Caracas

Label

Four Quarters Entertainment

Contact Info

Silva Screen reps masters & publishing o/b/o Four Quarters Entertainment,

North/South America: doug@silvascreenusa.com

Europe, Asia & Australia: david@silvascreen.co.uk