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Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Noor
NOOR is an American Muslim band of brothers who bring a unique flavour to the soundscape of Muslim music and artistry, drawing on their heritage as descendents of the spiritually-rich East and their upbringing in the young and modern West.
NOOR has developed a voice that is unique to Islamic traditions. NOOR’s sound reflects the individual talents and styles that carries people on a spiritual and emotional journey that celebrates life, family and a dedication to Allah and His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. NOOR’s newest album – A New Day Begins was released in October of 2010.
NOOR has shared the stage with internationally known artists such as Ustadz Muhammad Abu Ratib and Sami Yusuf. These artists and others have helped make traditional Nasheed mainstream by producing high quality songs with classic, wholesome lyrics and music. NOOR, alongside these pioneers of modern Nasheed, aims to offer Muslims around the world a hip Islamic alternative to standard commercialize music.
MuneerAdhami
MUNEER has always been mesmerized by the beautiful faculty of the ‘sound’. He has been singing a nasheed since grade school. He has been performing at major events and conferences for about 11 years. Throughout the years he has also developed a unique talent for voice over’s.Muneer has been with NOOR since its inception collaborating in melodies, percussion and vocalizing. He holds an MBA degree assisting in marketing projects. Muneerplays the riqq, tablah and duff.
SaydMahdy Amine
It is said that Mahdy was born singing and dancing. Mahdy demonstrated early on that God has generously blessed him with an innate rhythmic and melodic talent. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, he frequently performed and mesmerized audiences. Mahdy was mentored by many successful musicians and nasheed artists and eventually mastered the mysteries of the voicebox. He now resides with his family in Orange County, California.
TarikJalanbo
Tarik has been singing and performing Islamic music since the second grade. He has led school assemlblies and was a main figure at local major events and conventions. As he grew older, Tarik expanded his skills as an entertainer by taking vocal lessons and acting in numerous plays, including a role in a professional production of an Islam-friendly play at the Los Angeles Theater of Arts.
Tarik has a way with words and is the main lyrics writer and co-melody composer for NOOR. Tarik, who holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree, is also responsible for special projects and sponsorships for NOOR. Tarik can play the piano and several types of percussion instruments.
BassemRashidi
Bassem was born in Damascus in 1981 and immigrated to the U.S at the age of 10, He holds a degree Business Administration and is currently Co-producing NOOR’s new album. Bassem is responsible for the compassion of many of NOOR’s music and melodies.
Bassem discovered his musical talents at the age of 7 and feels blessed for the opportunity to continue his musical journey with his beloved NOOR brothers. Bassem can play the Native Indian Flute, Egyptian Nay, Pakistani flute, Irish flute and Armenian Duduk as well as the piano and percussion instruments like the Duff, Riqq and Tablah.
Source: http://www.isfestival.com.my/noor.php
NOOR has developed a voice that is unique to Islamic traditions. NOOR’s sound reflects the individual talents and styles that carries people on a spiritual and emotional journey that celebrates life, family and a dedication to Allah and His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. NOOR’s newest album – A New Day Begins was released in October of 2010.
NOOR has shared the stage with internationally known artists such as Ustadz Muhammad Abu Ratib and Sami Yusuf. These artists and others have helped make traditional Nasheed mainstream by producing high quality songs with classic, wholesome lyrics and music. NOOR, alongside these pioneers of modern Nasheed, aims to offer Muslims around the world a hip Islamic alternative to standard commercialize music.
MuneerAdhami
MUNEER has always been mesmerized by the beautiful faculty of the ‘sound’. He has been singing a nasheed since grade school. He has been performing at major events and conferences for about 11 years. Throughout the years he has also developed a unique talent for voice over’s.Muneer has been with NOOR since its inception collaborating in melodies, percussion and vocalizing. He holds an MBA degree assisting in marketing projects. Muneerplays the riqq, tablah and duff.
SaydMahdy Amine
It is said that Mahdy was born singing and dancing. Mahdy demonstrated early on that God has generously blessed him with an innate rhythmic and melodic talent. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, he frequently performed and mesmerized audiences. Mahdy was mentored by many successful musicians and nasheed artists and eventually mastered the mysteries of the voicebox. He now resides with his family in Orange County, California.
TarikJalanbo
Tarik has been singing and performing Islamic music since the second grade. He has led school assemlblies and was a main figure at local major events and conventions. As he grew older, Tarik expanded his skills as an entertainer by taking vocal lessons and acting in numerous plays, including a role in a professional production of an Islam-friendly play at the Los Angeles Theater of Arts.
Tarik has a way with words and is the main lyrics writer and co-melody composer for NOOR. Tarik, who holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree, is also responsible for special projects and sponsorships for NOOR. Tarik can play the piano and several types of percussion instruments.
BassemRashidi
Bassem was born in Damascus in 1981 and immigrated to the U.S at the age of 10, He holds a degree Business Administration and is currently Co-producing NOOR’s new album. Bassem is responsible for the compassion of many of NOOR’s music and melodies.
Bassem discovered his musical talents at the age of 7 and feels blessed for the opportunity to continue his musical journey with his beloved NOOR brothers. Bassem can play the Native Indian Flute, Egyptian Nay, Pakistani flute, Irish flute and Armenian Duduk as well as the piano and percussion instruments like the Duff, Riqq and Tablah.
Source: http://www.isfestival.com.my/noor.php
Native Deen
The story of Native Deen is an inspiring one that began with three Muslim youth possessing unique talents and a passion to spread the uplifting message of Islam. Originally solo artists and active participants of their communities searching for creative ways to educate and inspire Muslim youth, today Native Deen has become a fusion of Hip-Hop and R&B flavours, thrilling fans with their eclectic and unique combinations of lyrics, rhythms and sounds.
The trio made up of Joshua Salaam, Abdul Malik Ahmad and Naeem Muhammad came together in 2000 and has embarked upon a professional career in the music industry together in order to highlight issues confronting Muslims living in America.
These three young African-American men who were raised as Muslim in America have emerged as one of the leading Islamic Nasheed groups and have inspired an international fan base. Drawing their own inspiration from the message of Islam, Native Deen’s music calls listeners to keep the faith, to live better lives and to NOT succumb to the pressures and temptations of modern society.
Native Deen uses only percussion instruments, in line with the majority Muslim opinion on the usage of such musical instruments. This is has not hindered the group’s musical creativity but has resulted in evocative efforts that have resulted in sounds that are a fusion of street rap, hip-hop and R&B. The music of Native Deen resonates with fans all over the world. Their music and positive message have been embraced by people of all ages and background, from Islamic clerics to non Muslims.
The group has played to rave reviews throughout North America as well as Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia. Together they are played some of the world’s most distinguished auditoriums and performed alongside artists such as Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), Sami Yusuf, Zain Bhikha, Raihan , Dawud Wharnsby, Seven8six, Outlandish and much more.
Joshua Salaam was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1973. He was raised by a devoted single mother and has lived in a number of U.S cities including Kansas City, Missouri, Lombard, Illinois and Indianapolis. In Indiana his mother worked for a number of Islamic organizations. He currently resides in the Washington D.C area. Joshua began writing and performing at the early age of 10 at youth camps as a member of MSU (Muslim Steppin Up).
By the age of 12, he was a member of and entertaining hundreds of participants of a national Muslim youth group called MYNA or Muslim Youth of North America. These entertainment sessions led Joshua to be on the very first MYNA Raps album in 1992.
A year later, he co- founded a group called Sonz of the Crescent where he recorded and debuted the album What’s the Word. In 1998, he had yet another opportunity to work on a collaborative project with many up-and-coming Muslim Rap Artists through a series of albums produced by MYNA Raps leading him to cross paths with a creative songwriter and producer named Abdul Malik Ahmad.
Later Abdul Malik, Naeem and himself joined together to form Native Deen. Since then he has toured the U.S and the world with Native Deen. Not only is Joshua a lyrical genius behind the Mic, combining hardcore, no-nonsense lyrics with old-school Hip-Hop, but he is also a talented Conga player in his own right, drumming out beats to compliment his fellow artists. He is an entertainer-at-heart as his fans will bear witness to his numerous stage antics that have them on their feet and often doubled-over from laughter. When Josh is not in the studio or touring with Native Deen, he enjoys teaching and spending time with his two young sons Musa and Haroon.
Naeem Muhammad was born on June 25, 1975 and grew up on the mean streets of inner city Baltimore (Maryland). He was the third of seven children and his mother’s first child born and raised as a Muslim. Naeem possesses a deep love and a flare for art stemming from his father who was a painter and his mother who attended art classes with baby Naeem in a carrier.
He has many memories of attending countless art festivals, live music performances and African cultural events as a child which inspired him artistically instead of getting caught up in the streets. However, his mother wanted to nurture more than just his cultural and artistic development, so she enrolled Naeem into the Islamic Community School of Baltimore, a private Muslim parochial school, hoping to plant the seeds of faith deep within his soul.
From fifth grade until graduation, Naeem spend these formative years in Islamic education and community activism. He has been involved with Muslim youth community work since the age of 13, working with various organizations such as Muslim Youth Council of D.C, AMC (American Muslim Council) and MYNA, where he befriended Abdul Malik and became acquainted with Joshua. He graduated from the Islamic Community School of Baltimore and went on to attend Towson University in Maryland.
It was while at college that he formed a Hip-Hop group called North Star which started to collaborate with MYNA Raps. Naeem has written and performed a number of songs for the MYNA Raps album series and has had songs featured in the soundtrack by Astrolabe Pictures for their animated movie entitled The Boy and the King.
Naem’s blend of heart-wrenching melodies and thought-provoking Hip-Hop rhymes coupled with his distinctive strong voice and made him stand out as a unique artist. His lyrics are a testament to his artistic and organic heritage as he sings and flows about spirituality, soul-searching, family, humanity, politics, environment, and everything in between.
His passion for educating and uplifting through music is nowhere more evident than onstage where he brings unparalleled Energy, connecting with the audience and commanding their attention. Although Naem has many fans the world over, his biggest fans are his four baby girls, who live with him in Charles Village, Maryland, along with his wife.
Abdul Malik Ahmad was born in Connecticut in 1975 but spent most of his life in the Washington, D.C. area where he currently resides with his wife and daughter. He was privately educated until his senior year, after which he attended Georgetown University. During that time, he was heavily involved in writing and producing the music for a series of albums that were produces under MYNA Raps. At the same time, Abdul Malik was able to visit the Middle East and become fluent in the Arabic languages and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic from Georgetown University.
He lets his bilingual tongue flow with his musical pen. Abdul Malik’s writing talent is such that one listens enthralled at the merging of the two worlds in which he lives, East and West, Muslim and non-Muslim, and which he brings together seamlessly in his music. He transports the listener from the past to the future and back to the present without effort, transcending even time and space. His songs and rhymes are evidence of his passion for a better society as he masterfully writes about many issues that affect non-Muslims and Muslims alike.
His ability to capture an audience like a master story teller with his songs and to produce ear-catching rhythms and sounds in the studio with limited instrumentality has put him in the top tier of Muslim Artists. This talented songwriter, producer, and musician is a devoted husband and father, who believes in building strong family and community ties.
Source: http://www.isfestival.com.my/native.php
The trio made up of Joshua Salaam, Abdul Malik Ahmad and Naeem Muhammad came together in 2000 and has embarked upon a professional career in the music industry together in order to highlight issues confronting Muslims living in America.
These three young African-American men who were raised as Muslim in America have emerged as one of the leading Islamic Nasheed groups and have inspired an international fan base. Drawing their own inspiration from the message of Islam, Native Deen’s music calls listeners to keep the faith, to live better lives and to NOT succumb to the pressures and temptations of modern society.
Native Deen uses only percussion instruments, in line with the majority Muslim opinion on the usage of such musical instruments. This is has not hindered the group’s musical creativity but has resulted in evocative efforts that have resulted in sounds that are a fusion of street rap, hip-hop and R&B. The music of Native Deen resonates with fans all over the world. Their music and positive message have been embraced by people of all ages and background, from Islamic clerics to non Muslims.
The group has played to rave reviews throughout North America as well as Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia. Together they are played some of the world’s most distinguished auditoriums and performed alongside artists such as Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), Sami Yusuf, Zain Bhikha, Raihan , Dawud Wharnsby, Seven8six, Outlandish and much more.
Joshua Salaam was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1973. He was raised by a devoted single mother and has lived in a number of U.S cities including Kansas City, Missouri, Lombard, Illinois and Indianapolis. In Indiana his mother worked for a number of Islamic organizations. He currently resides in the Washington D.C area. Joshua began writing and performing at the early age of 10 at youth camps as a member of MSU (Muslim Steppin Up).
By the age of 12, he was a member of and entertaining hundreds of participants of a national Muslim youth group called MYNA or Muslim Youth of North America. These entertainment sessions led Joshua to be on the very first MYNA Raps album in 1992.
A year later, he co- founded a group called Sonz of the Crescent where he recorded and debuted the album What’s the Word. In 1998, he had yet another opportunity to work on a collaborative project with many up-and-coming Muslim Rap Artists through a series of albums produced by MYNA Raps leading him to cross paths with a creative songwriter and producer named Abdul Malik Ahmad.
Later Abdul Malik, Naeem and himself joined together to form Native Deen. Since then he has toured the U.S and the world with Native Deen. Not only is Joshua a lyrical genius behind the Mic, combining hardcore, no-nonsense lyrics with old-school Hip-Hop, but he is also a talented Conga player in his own right, drumming out beats to compliment his fellow artists. He is an entertainer-at-heart as his fans will bear witness to his numerous stage antics that have them on their feet and often doubled-over from laughter. When Josh is not in the studio or touring with Native Deen, he enjoys teaching and spending time with his two young sons Musa and Haroon.
Naeem Muhammad was born on June 25, 1975 and grew up on the mean streets of inner city Baltimore (Maryland). He was the third of seven children and his mother’s first child born and raised as a Muslim. Naeem possesses a deep love and a flare for art stemming from his father who was a painter and his mother who attended art classes with baby Naeem in a carrier.
He has many memories of attending countless art festivals, live music performances and African cultural events as a child which inspired him artistically instead of getting caught up in the streets. However, his mother wanted to nurture more than just his cultural and artistic development, so she enrolled Naeem into the Islamic Community School of Baltimore, a private Muslim parochial school, hoping to plant the seeds of faith deep within his soul.
From fifth grade until graduation, Naeem spend these formative years in Islamic education and community activism. He has been involved with Muslim youth community work since the age of 13, working with various organizations such as Muslim Youth Council of D.C, AMC (American Muslim Council) and MYNA, where he befriended Abdul Malik and became acquainted with Joshua. He graduated from the Islamic Community School of Baltimore and went on to attend Towson University in Maryland.
It was while at college that he formed a Hip-Hop group called North Star which started to collaborate with MYNA Raps. Naeem has written and performed a number of songs for the MYNA Raps album series and has had songs featured in the soundtrack by Astrolabe Pictures for their animated movie entitled The Boy and the King.
Naem’s blend of heart-wrenching melodies and thought-provoking Hip-Hop rhymes coupled with his distinctive strong voice and made him stand out as a unique artist. His lyrics are a testament to his artistic and organic heritage as he sings and flows about spirituality, soul-searching, family, humanity, politics, environment, and everything in between.
His passion for educating and uplifting through music is nowhere more evident than onstage where he brings unparalleled Energy, connecting with the audience and commanding their attention. Although Naem has many fans the world over, his biggest fans are his four baby girls, who live with him in Charles Village, Maryland, along with his wife.
Abdul Malik Ahmad was born in Connecticut in 1975 but spent most of his life in the Washington, D.C. area where he currently resides with his wife and daughter. He was privately educated until his senior year, after which he attended Georgetown University. During that time, he was heavily involved in writing and producing the music for a series of albums that were produces under MYNA Raps. At the same time, Abdul Malik was able to visit the Middle East and become fluent in the Arabic languages and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic from Georgetown University.
He lets his bilingual tongue flow with his musical pen. Abdul Malik’s writing talent is such that one listens enthralled at the merging of the two worlds in which he lives, East and West, Muslim and non-Muslim, and which he brings together seamlessly in his music. He transports the listener from the past to the future and back to the present without effort, transcending even time and space. His songs and rhymes are evidence of his passion for a better society as he masterfully writes about many issues that affect non-Muslims and Muslims alike.
His ability to capture an audience like a master story teller with his songs and to produce ear-catching rhythms and sounds in the studio with limited instrumentality has put him in the top tier of Muslim Artists. This talented songwriter, producer, and musician is a devoted husband and father, who believes in building strong family and community ties.
Source: http://www.isfestival.com.my/native.php
Zain Bhikha
Zain Bhikha was born in Pretoria in 1974 and began his music career at the tender age of 19.
He is a world-renowned singer, philanthropist and businessman who has dedicated the last fifteen years to his music, his career and the community.
To date, Zain has released several highly acclaimed albums and graced the stage in countries around the world with his melodius voices and as an ambassador for world peace. He also holds youth workshops worldwide and donates all proceeds from his music to charity. Five years into a blossoming career, in 1999 he met Yusuf Islam – formerly Cat Stevens and collaborated on Yusuf’s album “A is for Allah”. He was subsequently signed to Islam’s record label “Mountain of Light”. Through this incredible partnership, Zain has had the privilege of working with unbelievable artists such as Dawud Wharnsby Ali and Native Deen. These men inspire Bhikha with complete love and passion in their quest for both Islamic music and the Faith.
In 2009 Zain was honoured as one of the Top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world. A great achievement, it serves to illustrate the fervour with which he approaches his projects and his complete dedication to his faith, his community and his country.
He is a force of nature determined to build positive outlooks and outcomes in the quest for tolerance amongst nations and a better future for children of the world.
Albums released by Zain Bhikha:
•A Way of Life (1994)
•Praise to the Prophet (1996)
•Fortunate Is He (1997)
•The Journey (1998)
•Faith (2001)
•Our World (2002)
•Mountains of Makkah (2005)
•Allah Knows (2006)
•1415 (2009)
•First We Need the Love (June 2010)
•A Way of Life (Re- released in 2010)
* Hope (2011)
Source: http://www.isfestival.com.my/zain.php
He is a world-renowned singer, philanthropist and businessman who has dedicated the last fifteen years to his music, his career and the community.
To date, Zain has released several highly acclaimed albums and graced the stage in countries around the world with his melodius voices and as an ambassador for world peace. He also holds youth workshops worldwide and donates all proceeds from his music to charity. Five years into a blossoming career, in 1999 he met Yusuf Islam – formerly Cat Stevens and collaborated on Yusuf’s album “A is for Allah”. He was subsequently signed to Islam’s record label “Mountain of Light”. Through this incredible partnership, Zain has had the privilege of working with unbelievable artists such as Dawud Wharnsby Ali and Native Deen. These men inspire Bhikha with complete love and passion in their quest for both Islamic music and the Faith.
In 2009 Zain was honoured as one of the Top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world. A great achievement, it serves to illustrate the fervour with which he approaches his projects and his complete dedication to his faith, his community and his country.
He is a force of nature determined to build positive outlooks and outcomes in the quest for tolerance amongst nations and a better future for children of the world.
Albums released by Zain Bhikha:
•A Way of Life (1994)
•Praise to the Prophet (1996)
•Fortunate Is He (1997)
•The Journey (1998)
•Faith (2001)
•Our World (2002)
•Mountains of Makkah (2005)
•Allah Knows (2006)
•1415 (2009)
•First We Need the Love (June 2010)
•A Way of Life (Re- released in 2010)
* Hope (2011)
Source: http://www.isfestival.com.my/zain.php
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