MY FAVORITE MIX

This is why music for me is a personal form of expression. It is an inner conversation that seeks a moment of joy or lives a moment of sadness. On both occasions music is able to change my mood or satisfy my senses.

How I view music is different from how others I know view it: I don’t label people according to the type of music they listen to. I might hate it, but I wouldn’t label someone ‘uncool’ for listening to a type of music that I don’t necessarily like. I find this absurd and contradictory to the core notion of what music as an art should be about —respect for diversity, creativity, tolerance and love.

The genres that suck me in are piano rock, alternative, pop rock or whatever you may choose to call it. Bands like Lifehouse, Coldplay, The Fray and Radiohead all feed my musical appetite. I believe that “Everything” by Lifehouse is one of this century’s most beautiful songs. Alternative rock is the type of music I listen to when I need to relax.

But it is not just the music that makes a song appeal to me. The lyrics and vocals also need to win my approval. For instance, Isaac Slade, The Fray’s lead singer, songwriter, pianist and co-founder made me first notice the band. The Grammy-nominated singer embodies the qualities of a true artist with his close-to-the-heart lyrics and distinctive and captivating voice. This is exactly the type of artist that makes music worth listening to.

Although Maria Mena sings pop, she is my ultimate favorite — the first time I listened to her was enough to get me addicted. The Norwegian artist’s work is sheer brilliance. She writes most of her songs and her lyrics are shockingly real. She is not as famous as other artists, since she doesn’t follow the music industry’s trends of appearing half naked in videos or dressing in weird costumes. She is eccentric and uniquely bold in her choice of words and topics, but she is also a true artist who writes about topics that range from love, emotions and life to anorexia and self image. And I don’t need to explain how amazing her smooth voice is. I recommend her songs “Sorry,” “Our Battles,” “Miss You Love,” “Self Fulfilling Prophecy,” and “Internal Dialogue.”

My taste in Middle Eastern music is a bit traditional. When it comes time to set the mood I tune in to Abdel Halim Hafez’s classics. Abdel Halim is a Middle Eastern legend whose music never gets old, with generation after generation still listening to him.

I also listen to Aida El-Ayoubi when I need to refresh my mind. Although she only released three albums before leaving the business, many still adore her music. El-Ayoubi is probably the only Arab female artist who is a guitarist, songwriter and singer. She is an Eastern force to be reckoned with — a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

I appreciate any type of music as long as it has real artistic quality. Music takes us to a place where everyone is the same and allows us to express our emotions freely.