The Iraqi talks about his life, his work and his role on ‘’ B y Adam Grundey The Private World of

58 • Rolling Stone, October 2012 Rolling Stone, October 2012 • 59 kadim al sahir

y problem,” says kadim al sahir, “is played it to my teacher, he asked who’d 1 2 that I’m very emotional.” The Iraqi singer given it to me,” he says. “He wouldn’t be- lieve I’d composed it.” Not long after- and composer is talking specifically about wards, he tried his hand at writing lyrics the challenge of picking contestants for the too. “It was just saying that ‘they’ wanted to keep me away from my guitar, my po- Middle East version of The Voice, for which etry, everything that I loved,” he explains. he’s one of the coaches. But when it comes He admits it was a “pretty heavy” song for to the difficulties resulting from heeding a 13-year-old. By now, Al Sahir had already made up his heart over his head, he could be referring to any one of several areas of his mind that he wanted to be a musician. his‘M life: from the trouble it caused him as a kid lost in his own thoughts; His parents weren’t so sure. “No one ac- through his refusal to comply with requests to alter his style to fit the ex- cepted it in the beginning,” he says. “They thought it was a waste of time.” Ignor- 3 pectations of others; to the undefined anxiety that, in recent years, result- ing his parents’ wishes for him to become World traveler ed in a gradual withdrawal from public life – although he still performed a doctor or lawyer, Al Sahir continued to (1) Al Sahir performs at the BBC live – and weeks at a time spent holed up in one of his several homes compose, often finding inspiration in Ara- bic poetry that he read in magazines. One Awards around the world (including , Morocco, the U.A.E. and ). in London in 2003. man’s work, in particular, resonated with (2) With the late the teenage Al Sahir; that of Syrian poet Syrian poet Nizar We meet at Al Sahir’s apartment there. “But no one can hurt them,” he . “I chose a lot of his poems Qabbani, whose in – a bright, airy, very white adds quickly. “They’re my friends.”) And, to compose music to,” Al Sahir says. “He’s work has inspired space many floors above the sea. He’s as the white piano that dominates the liv- very articulate when it comes to writ- dozens of his joined by his eldest son, Wissam (and ing room suggests, he’s a prolific compos- ing about women; the way he expresses compositions. (3) In in the early granddaughter Sana) and his manag- er who’s written hundreds of songs, rang- his feelings. Very sensitive. Extremely ro- one day Al Sahir received a sum- Eighties. (4) On the er, Dergham Owainati. It’s been a while ing from pop hits to classical ballads that mantic. I love it. Every day you feel there mons from a government minis- set of The Voice. since Al Sahir did a press interview and, can last for an hour or more. is something new in the words.” ter. “It’s just a love song,” he says. at first, it shows. His answers are (very) It’s clear Al Sahir has a lot of energy, Throughout his teens, Al Sahir contin- “But because it was released to- short and to the point, and he doesn’t both mental and physical (he goes to the ued to practice and perfect his playing and wards the end of the war with us, you have to change.’ I give much away. Some of this may be gym at least five days a week, he says, and composition. He was accepted into Bagh- Iran, maybe they thought that said, ‘I can’t.’” due to an unfounded lack of confidence for a 55-year-old he’s in ridiculously good dad’s prestigious Académie des Beaux- ‘snake’ was related to Iran. So It helped that Al Sahir in his English. Mostly, though, it’s just shape). It’s also clear that he enjoys his Arts, where he spent six years studying they interpreted it in a political had plenty of self-confi- way.” The lyrics, Al Sahir says, dence. In the Eighties, he are “something like, ‘If anyone says, when he was doing gets bitten by a snake, he’ll be his national service, he ‘‘the difficulties of life in iraq encourage afraid of a rope.’ Or ‘Once bitten, told his friends in the twice shy,’ as you might say in army that “next year will to go deeply into things. if life isn’t English. In they say that if be my year. You will see.” anyone gets burned by soup, he’ll “No one believed me,” he always easy, it can make you stronger.’’ blow on ice-cream.” The govern- 4 continues. “But when I ment ended up banning the song listened to the songs, I from TV and radio. Which may have been students to sing with me. There was a big knew that I could do something, that that he really doesn’t like doing inter- own company. Most of his hobbies are sol- Arab and Western classical music and disheartening, but also helped boost Al concert at Theater for academy there was something different. Some- views. “I don’t always want people writ- itary affairs. Iraqi folklore. He cites his teachers there Sahir’s profile. He began to receive invita- students, all the ministers were there, all thing here.” He taps his chest. “When I ing about me in magazines, gossiping, as one the biggest influences on his music. tions to perform outside of Iraq. the teachers, and Munir Bashir. I wasn’t sang in front of people, just a small con- blah, blah, blah,” he says. “I want a very ven as a child, al sahir But not all of them would necessarily have In his final year at the academy, he meant to be performing – he was so upset cert with friends, I could see people’s re- peaceful life.” says, he was a loner (despite hav- been pleased about that at the time. composed one of his most popular pop that he’d told the organizers he didn’t want actions. I could see the ladies, like [his After a while, though, he relaxes and ing seven brothers and two sis- songs, “Abart Al Shat” [I Crossed The me to participate. And when I came on jaw drops]. So I knew there was some- becomes more animated, leaping up from Eters). He was born in in l sahir was already River]. It was a huge hit (although Al stage with the , he shouted at the other thing there. Then I released ‘Ladghat El his seat to show me the results of his lat- northern Iraq, but his parents moved to trying to kickstart his music Sahir says he still hasn’t received any teachers. My friend just said, ‘Start! Start!’ Hayya,’ and boom!” est hobby, sculpting. He only started re- Baghdad when Al Sahir was still young, career while still a student at money for it – “not even enough to pay And when I started singing, he [went Contrary to the advice of industry exec- cently, and the results are surprisingly and he was raised in the capital. “I was A the academy. He wasn’t hav- for the recording”), and has been cov- quiet]. At the end, he [gave me a standing utives, Al Sahir continued to compose his accomplished. “No one taught me any- a daydreamer, always imaginative,” Al ing much luck, though. Most producers ered many times since. “That was real- ovation]. He told me, ‘This is your style. dense, complex ballads inspired by poet- thing about it, I just woke up one day and Sahir says. “I always wanted to be by my- he met with wanted him to sing covers of adim al sahir,2; courtesy of mbc ly the one that broke me across the Arab Not the others. I don’t care if you get fa- ry. This wasn’t, he says, a conscious stand thought, ‘I can do something with this,’” self, just walking, and I would always Arab standards, or to perform songs writ- world,” he says. “Even now, in concerts, mous or not. This is what you need to do.’” against : “I like pop music. I he says, as he presents a carefully detailed imagine that I had a girlfriend with me, ten by their in-house teams. Neither op- they still shout for that song.” Not every- think it’s beautiful. But I prefer the clas- clay figure modeled on one of his friends. and make up stories about them. I don’t tion interested Al Sahir. By now, his com- one was a fan, though. Especially not at t w a s n ’ t t h e f i r s t t i m e sical Arab music. I want to feel. When I It looks a little like Buddha. “Well, he know. I was always thinking about ro- positions had grown to encompass a more the academy. he would face opposition to his write songs, I have to feel it. And the dif- looks a bit like Buddha,” Al Sahir says, mantic things.” Naturally, Al Sahir was modern, pop feel (although he was still “When ‘Abart Al Shat’ became famous, musical choices. Al Sahir’s fierce ficulties of life in Iraq encourage Iraqis laughing. “He loves to eat.” Sculpting is drawn to music, particularly songs from composing plenty of classically influenced Munir Bashir [the Iraqi oud legend who I determination to express himself to go deeply into things. Suffering is im- just the latest creative outlet for Al Sahir; Fayrouz and . tracks), and he was confident that, pro- taught at the academy] heard it, and was honestly through his songs has led to portant some times. In Baghdad, yes, we there’s a Jackson Pollock-inspired paint- No one else in his family, he says, was vided the public got to hear them, they told a student had composed it. He was conflict with those in the pop realm, as have had too much trouble. But if life isn’t ing spread out on his pool table in the at all musical (although his “little broth- could be hits. He was right, too. In the very angry. ‘Kick him out. We’re supposed well as the traditionalists. “From the be- always easy, that can make you stron- lounge, which he’s been working on over er” now plays the flute in Al Sahir’s back- late Eighties, having self-financed a video to be studying classical music. What is ginning, I did my own thing,” he says. ger. That’s why I chose Nizar’s poems. I the past week, and he’s become a keen ing band), but that didn’t deter him. Aged shoot for “Ladghat El Hayya” [The Snake this?’ The chancellor came and told me “Because I love music. At the very start, know they’re very difficult, but I love that. gardner, transforming his small farm in 12, he got his first instrument, a guitar Bite], he was able, through a friend who they wanted to expel me, and that I should before I became famous, a big compa- I love it.” Morocco. (“I love gardening,” he says. “I (reportedly selling his bicycle in order was a director of TV shows, to persuade quickly write a classical composition. So ny told me, ‘Kadim, you have to change.’ Life in Baghdad only got harder with bought, like, 300 palm trees. That land, to buy it), and composed his first song – networks to start airing it. It rapidly be- I chose a Nizar Qabbani poem and com- They wanted a pop song. They tried the start of the first in 1990. from one year ago to now…[it’s been “a very classical song, 10 or 12 minutes came an audience favorite. But that pop- posed music on the oud. I chose a stu- to impose certain guidelines, to com- “Every day for 42 days, they were firing opening spread: courtesy of mbc/david abdallah studios transformed].” He also keeps chickens long” – just three months later. “When I ularity brought unwanted attention, and clockwise from top left: redferns/getty images; courtesy of K dent to play percussion with me and 15 mercialize it: ‘If you want to come with missiles into the city,” he [Cont. on 80]

60 • Rolling Stone, October 2012 Rolling Stone, October 2012 • 61 KADIM al sahir thing. I never even smoked one cigarette he will say is that he took the Voice job in my life. They’d be saying, ‘Come on, because he knew he wanted to force [Cont. from 61] says. Inevitably, bombs smoke one, have a drink, you’ll see your some kind of change on his life. “I want- were landing close to where Al Sahir music differently, better.’ I just said no. ed to do this show. For myself. I wanted lived with his wife (he’s now divorced) But maybe if I’d been 18 or 19 I would to face the camera, the people, everyone. and two young sons. “If I wanted to go have listened. Who knows?” That’s why I said yes.” He is, he insists, out and see my friends or something, I Al Sahir apparently doesn’t have many “very happy,” not just with the show, but had to go by bicycle, because there was vices. “I’ve got very good self-control,” with his life in general. Whatever anx- no petrol. And I had to get home before he says. Even when he plays Vegas, he iety he was struggling with appears to 8 p.m., because we knew that was when doesn’t gamble. “I think of it as not just have been subdued by facing the pub- the bombing would start. So after that my money, it’s my kids’ money too. If lic again. Although, Al Sahir allows, he time, there was no electricity, nothing. you can just do it for half-an-hour or so, wasn’t convinced he’d made the right de- So I was sleeping in one room, but I put it’s probably fun. But just enjoy it; if you cision at first. “Starting the series, every my music in another room. And I wrote lose, you lose. If you win, take it and go day I wanted to fight with Dergham a letter saying that if I died and someone somewhere and enjoy it. But my friends [Owainati],” he says. “I gave him a head- found this music, please give it to some- stay there for hours. Next morning, I ache. ‘Why did you put me in this show?’ one who deserves it.” He has a perma- come down full of energy and I see them Wow! But after, like, the second day, I nent reminder of that time: a tattoo of with their miserable faces, messed-up felt good. Now I can go out again. I went the melody for one of the songs he com- hair. It’s sad. Me, I’m all happy, and walking yesterday.” posed, “School Of Love,” on his chest. they’re just slumped there.” He laughs. His approach to the show, he says, Once the bombing stopped, Al Sahir and Still, aware of the temptations they is pretty straightforward. “I try to be his family left Iraq. His two sisters and would be subjected to, he was keen to myself. I’m not bothered about being seven brothers stayed behind. “It’s hard,” dissuade his sons from following him funny.” And the reason his emotional he says. “But it was my choice to leave.” into music, even though, he says, Wis- side has been a problem? “A couple of sam has “an amazing voice; the girls the people I chose weren’t great singers,” irst, al sahir headed to love his singing,” and has sung backing he says. “No one else chose them. But I . But Iraq’s invasion of Ku- vocals on some of his records. (Asked if did. Not because I felt sorry for them, F wait was to have far-reaching con- his younger son Omar shares his broth- but because I heard something in their sequences for his fledgling career. A er’s talent, Al Sahir bursts into laughter. voice. Technically, they’re not good, but blanket ban on Iraqi artists had been I didn’t just want to choose experienced imposed on the airwaves of the Gulf, singers, I want two or three who need and he couldn’t get his new composi- “For the last four or training. They’ll change. I told them on tions heard. “It wasn’t just me,” he says. camera that they were out of tune, but “Nazem Al Ghazali died in the Sixties, five years, I didn’t they had something. I’ll work with them. but they couldn’t play his music either. People were saying, ‘Oh my god Kadim, “Obviously I was upset,” he contin- want to do any what’s this?’ Even my friends. But listen ues. “As a musician, I want my music to interviews. I just to them in a few weeks. You’ll see.” be heard. Because whenever I play, there Much of his training will be focused are lots of people from Kuwait, Saudi, all wanted to be quiet.” on relaxing. “If I want to sing, say… [he together listening to the music. Because I launches effortlessly into an mel- don’t have any [animosity], just love. Just ody]. This is good. But they’ll try and romantic songs. You can see the whole “No. He has a very bad voice. My god! push it out. Why? You don’t have to do Middle East at my concerts.” He’s very funny though. He could be a that. Relax. Hopefully they’ll listen.” After leaving Jordan, Al Sahir moved comedian.”) It’s advice he’s trying to follow himself on to , where he finally got to meet But he is now scouting for new tal- as he returns to the limelight. For all his his biggest inspiration, Nizar Qabba- ent as one of the coaches on MBC’s The recent trials, there is an air of assured ni. The pair quickly struck up a writ- Voice, alongside Assi El Helani, self-confidence about Al Sahir. He’s cur- ing partnership (“He was like the Ber- and Saber Rebai. He took some persuad- rently striving to finish “The Epic of Gil- nie Taupin to Kadim’s Elton John,” says ing, though. He says he turned down the gamesh,” a piece he’s been working on Owainati), producing over 30 songs to- network’s offers for two or three months for 13 years, according to Owainati. And gether before Qabbani’s death in 1998. before saying yes. The problem wasn’t he’s sure he’s picked the winner of The From there, he moved to Cairo. “Then money; it was that Al Sahir had become Voice. Several times, he makes a point Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid Al increasingly reluctant to leave his house. of saying he loves his life. He’s aware Maktoum, ruler of Dubai] sent me some “For the last four or five years, I didn’t he’s a lucky man. Twenty-five years on poetry and I composed three songs for want to do any interviews, or any TV from his first hit, he’s established him- him, and they invited me to the U.A.E. shows. I felt like I didn’t want to go out,” self as one of the most influential figures It was the first time an Iraqi artist came he explains. “I just wanted to be quiet. in modern-day ; he’s played to the Gulf after the Gulf War.” And it I was always sitting by myself in the shows at some of the world’s biggest meant an end to the ban on Iraqi sing- house, I would spend two or three weeks venues, including London’s Royal Al- ers. Al Sahir quickly resumed his ascent here in the same apartment, afraid to go bert Hall “three or four times,” and col- to become one of the most critically and out on the street. Scared.” laborated with Western artists includ- commercially successful Arab artists of Scared of what? ing , and all time. “I don’t know,” he responds. “It start- . And while he still doesn’t ed off very small, then got bigger and have a permanent place to call home, in- he fact that stardom bigger. And it became, I think, a kind stead dividing his time between several didn’t arrive until he was in his of sickness. It was depressing. It wasn’t countries and addresses, that’s just the T late twenties and already a father, good.” way he likes it. Al Sahir believes, was a big plus. “When He offers no concrete explanation as “For me, politicians make borders. I started recording, there would often to what caused this. Possibly because They divide the world,” he says. “But the be people sitting there, smoking… some- he’s not yet entirely sure himself. What world is my country.”

80 • Rolling Stone, October 2012