Interview with Samer: Creator of Musicalism.fm
This week we have the pleasure of interviewing a truly unique personality who is doing some remarkable things at the intersection of music and culture. Samer Haddad works in the Middle East tech industry and has an insatiable, global appetite for music. Born and raised in Jordan, he can be found sampling teas downtown or organizing and discovering new music. He is the creator of Musicalism.fm, a playlist website featuring home-grown indie music from the Middle East.
1. You created Musicalism.fm, which is more than just a music website with playlists. Can you tell us about your message, and how it shows up in your playlists and efforts?
The motivation for Musicalism was born from a combination of different ideas: I wanted to introduce diverse musical styles to my Jordanian community, giving them a digestible alternative to the Top 40 that dominates most of the popular radio stations. I also wanted to create a platform that showcased Middle Eastern indie artists, as they are very under-represented in the regional and global music scenes.
2. There is a strong element of beauty in the music that you spread, and in the images that accompany each playlist. Where does that beauty come from and how is it characteristic of the Middle East?
As you know, much has happened in recent history in the Middle East. And change continues. I sensed that launching Musicalism was appropriate to the times by introducing different musical styles into the region’s cultural mainstream.
The Middle East has a long, innovative history of producing music. Unfortunately this tradition has been obscured for a variety of reasons. The concept of indie musical artists is largely undiscovered by the public. However they exist, and we want to provide a space for them to exhibit their talents.
3. Musicalism has mixed some amazing playlists. What do you enjoy about the playlist format, and how do you go about building one?
The player, radio, and web format are designed from scratch using a minimalist theme. A favorite song, artist, or even a moment in my day can produce inspiration that shapes the mood and moves me to create a new playlist.
I try to tap into the universality of music for the playlists, designing them around emotions or “themes” rather than any individual artist. A singular piece of art complements the theme and reinforces the emotion I would like to evoke in listeners. A lot of music is based around sound rather than lyrics, which allows the playlists to act more as a “cultural bridge” rather than representing Western or Eastern music.
4. The internet has enabled communities to form regardless of someone’s place of origin, but based on interests, mutual tastes, and mutual desires. How important is creating a worldwide musical community to you and the goals of Musicalism?
Music is a rare phenomenon that transcends culture and place and Musicalism is a passion project to this extent. I would love to be able to influence the region in a more profound way — to create the first indie radio station in the Middle East, or even a record label. I believe I can use music to influence my society for the better. Introducing people to various musical styles helps to open their minds to accepting different world views. And really, I think that this is something needed now more than ever.
Well said Samer. Subscribe to Musicalism on Whyd, Like their Facebook page, and make sure you visit Musicalism.fm often to listen to the great music that Samer puts together.