Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadwa Rifai.
Hi Nadwa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Nadwa Rifai. I am a Lebanese American artist, TV host, founder, and lead singer of a New York City-based world music band. The style of music that I perform falls under the genre of “world music.” It is a blend of western music, such as jazz, bossa nova, and flamenco, with classical and contemporary Arabic music. My goal with music is to create a cross-cultural dialogue of musical styles from around the world.
My journey started in Beirut, where I got a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts with a concentration in Acting for Theater, TV, and Film from the Fine Arts Institute at Lebanese University. During those four years, I had a comprehensive arts education in theater performance, body expression, voice, mime, dance, and song, as well as cinematic directing, composition, and stage design.
In 2005, and while living in Boston, I collaborated musically with the French artist Jacques Pardo. Together we co-wrote the French-Arabic duet “L’amour en Banlieue,” which won the Global Rhythm Magazine/Sonic Bids award under the category of World Music in August 2006 and was featured on 120,000 CDs distributed worldwide. The song went on to win the 2007 US Independent Music Popular Vote Award.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey hasn’t been smooth. Being an immigrant and an independent artist is not easy to juggle, not to mention living in a hectic city like New York, with all the stress and pressure accompanying living there. However, I am grateful and feel terrific about where I am today.
Earning my master’s degree, cum laude in International Relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University required devotion to my schoolwork.
When the pandemic hit NY, it was the saddest time of my life. Every aspect of the social life in NY came to an abrupt stop. No more music, no more Broadway shows, no more socializing. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t see NY with loving eyes the way I always did. It was a period in my life that I will never forget. We are still picking up the pieces of our lives as New Yorkers, and I look forward to the day when the consequences of the pandemic will be over.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My goal is to really integrate and blend cultures with my music. I am not a “traditional” vocalist. Rather than interpreting songs in a given genre (jazz standards, Arabic traditional songs, etc.), I re-create the music of the songs that I perform by applying a variety of styles. For example, I have mixed Lebanese songs with jazz music and even recorded that professionally in studios. I’ve infused Brazilian Bossa Nova with Arabic. I’ve mixed Russian with Middle Eastern music. I’ve been privileged to perform music across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. This is something I enjoy and feels meaningful to me. Art is a message, a message of love, hope, and inclusivity. I am happiest when I can bring cultures together—musically speaking.
In addition, having studied acting and performed on stage has given me the tools to bring a more physical and dramatic presence to my musical expression. For me, the stage is my sanctuary, a place where I feel the most content, creative and happy. This is where I find myself. It is not just a business for me. It is a part of my existence. This is also why I enjoyed hosting two television shows; Cinema Time and Cine magazine.
I have also recently fulfilled a longtime dream by launching my fragrance: Nadwa, Scent of Lebanon. This scent captures my journey and passion as an artist. It is available for purchase online.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
On a personal level, there are people in my life that feel like the oxygen that I breathe. They are so dear to my heart, and I get my inspiration from them in any creative endeavor I get into.
They are my close network, and at times I consult with them before taking a final decision.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nadwarifai.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nadwamusic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nadwarifai www.facebook.com/nadwa
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nadwa
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/phoenicianmusic
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@nadwamusic
- Other: www.nadwarifai.com/perfume.php
