"I don’t need Melody's money"

Singer Myriam Fares. Beirut – Nicola Azaar Myriam Fares’ latest album “From my eyes” has been released, produced by Myriam Music. In an exclusive interview with Arabs Today, Fares has discussed her music, her fans and her widely-reported fallout with her production company, Melody. AT: Tell us more about your latest album “From my eyes” MF: It was produced by Myriam Music and distributed by EMI. It has 9 Gulf songs including “Atlah.” I worked with many poets and composers like Abdullah Al Qouood, Yusuf Al Omani, Seruz, Ahmed Al Harami, Walid Al Shami, and Sauood Al Sherbatli and Tareq Al Akef. I worked previously with both Al Sherbatli and Al Akef on my song “Where is he.” AT: When are you releasing your Lebanese-Egyptian album? MF: Soon. I’m just putting the final touches on it, but if its release is delayed, then I'll release a single earlier. AT: You released a video clip for the song “From my eyes” in time for the release of the album. Tell us about your cooperation with Director Joe Bou Eid on this clip. MF: It was heartfelt work on his behalf and our first collaboration. AT: Sofia Marikh considered your song “Atlah” vulgar. Sofia said that it is shameful to re-mix Alginawi music with your song. What do you say to that? MF: When you find one person contradicting the views of millions what can you do?...My song was extremely successful and was number one on radio stations for a month, which means that the general public liked my work. AT: Is it true that the word “Atlah” is a street word? MF: In Lebanon we use many new words, but does that mean they’re shameful? Of course not. It’s not a vulgar word and much of my generation use it. My aim was to mix both old and new generations together. AT: And is it true that the Artists’ union tried to prevent the song's release and filed a complaint against you? MF: I’ve never heard of that before. AT: Sofia even attacked your dance moves in the song’s video clip and considered it Indian rather than Moroccan dancing. What do you say to that? MF: No comment. What you saw was my own dancing. AT: Is it Moroccan dancing? MF: Of course. I’m not going to justify myself to every person that has an opinion on this matter. AT: This criticism follows one from presenter Randa Al Mur from Melody Radio, which you've now split from. Sofia is also with Melody. What do you say? MF: People are smart and know what really is going on. I don't have time to respond to everyone and it really doesn’t make any difference to me. I always respond to peoples' criticisms, but maybe their company asked them to criticise me or maybe they they do really believe it. What I care about is my fans’ opinion of me, and I’ll only defend myself if I feel there’s a group criticism of my music or me. AT: Would you ever go back to Melody? MF: I have my own management now called Myriam Music and it has helped me to mature as an artist, financially and intellectually, so they can produce all my work. Everything that’s happened with Melody is in the past. I’ve turned that page even when we were in court I gave up my financial rights and wished them the best of luck. AT: Why did you give up your rights? MF: Because I don’t need their money. Let me make something clear to you: when an artist decides to split from a company, that company will let them do it especially if the artist is unsuccessful. But when she is successful they become crazy trying to get her to stay. What happened with Melody is proof that they need me. They even asked to distribute my album, which I refused as they did not do a good job of releasing my previous albums. AT: So I understand that it was the right decision to make. MF: It was very right from a management and distribution side for my new album. Every work I’ve released lately has been a success and there are many surprises that you will see. Collaborating with Mobile Roadie, Myriam Music has produced the first music service for iPhone, iPad and Ipod in the Arab world where you can download a Myriam Fares application. More than 35 thousand people downloaded the application in the first three days of its release, which shocked many people, but is evidence that I have chosen my own management company well.