proudly present

        PRESS CONFERENCE AND LAUNCHING

OF CHILDREN’S ALBUM

Saba Islamic Media is launching Cheb Ali’s Nasheed album “Ana Muslim”, which he specially wrote for Muslim children to sing along, and to be thankfully proud of being Muslim.

Parts of “Ana Muslim” song also appear on “Allah Knows” album of world famous Nasheed artist Zain Bhikha, as “Deenil Islam”, a joint Bhikha/Cheb Ali effort.

“Ana Muslim” is a unique collection of modern English and Arabic Nasheeds with inspiring Islamic messages, especially for youth. The album is produced by Saba Islamic Media and being released in November 2007 in conjunction with Eidil Adha celebration - something you cannot afford not to be part of!

Cheb Ali - the now Malaysian based Egyptian Rai Nasheed artist - has been in the Egyptian, Malaysian and international music industry since 1994. Talents: song writing, lyrics writing, recording and live performing. To his credit: Tens of songs for Egyptian, Lebanese, Saudi, Australian, South African and Malaysian artists; few singles of his own, and a Nasheed album.

He is known in the Egyptian and International scene as: the “Voice of the Desert”, and his music, the “Rhythm of the Nile”.

Q & A

Q: When did you start your Nasheed career?

A: I have been generally involved in the music industry since 1994, in particular in the pop Rai music, composing and writing songs and commercials. I wrote my first Nasheed titled Ya Rabbana, towards the end of 2003. But the real turning point in my music career came in year 2005 when I decided to go further into Nasheed - coming up with several Nasheeds, both for myself and for other artists as well!

Q: Could you mention some of the artists you have worked with?

A: In the Nasheed music industry, among others, I’ve written songs for the two international Nasheed ‘giants’ - Zain Bhikha of South Africa and Raihan, the pride of Malaysia.

Q: What brought you to Kuala Lumpur, and what made you decide to stay in Malaysia?

A: I came to Malaysia in 2002 to sing pop songs at Genting Highland, during which time I met the Malaysian singer Azura Aziz. She had expressed interest in Arabic music and we decided to embark on some joint productions. I subsequently got involved in the production of Putri Gunung Ledang the Movie, for which I found myself staying in KL for an 8-month stretch. My first trip back to Cairo did not last 3 weeks – yes you guessed it… I had to come back to marry Azura and make Malaysia my second home!

Q: As you just mentioned, pop music used to be your cup of tea. So what made you change to Nasheed?

A: First of all, I listen to and enjoy all kinds of songs and music, as long as they are entertaining, especially those with a message. Earlier on, I used to focus mostly on the music, styles and lyrics. But as I got deeper into the awareness and teachings of Islam, the more I was attracted to the idea delivering Islamic messages through my songs, which is what Nasheed is all about.  On the other hand, the less-than-ideal situation Muslims are facing today globally, instills in me a sense of responsibility - to show the world glimpses of the true teachings of Islam. Along with other Nasheed singers in Malaysia and world wide, I hope to make good use of songs and music an effective tool of da’wah.

Further more, every song with a good message or good advice is a Nasheed, which reminds me of the song “Abouya” I wrote for the Betty Banafe’s album - an Arabic song about the father who passed away before he could have the opportunity of seeing his children for the last time. They all regretted being for ever ‘too busy’ to visit their father – indeed an important message to remind us of our responsibility towards our parents.

Q: Why did you choose Ana Muslim as your first video clip?

A: The time is not only right but even critical that every Muslim should be thankfully proud of being born or made a Muslim in this world. This of course, is actually an obvious understatement. There is no greater rahmah or blessing in this life than Islam. “Ana Muslim” is a simple Nasheed song aimed at children, that reminds everyone to be thankfully proud of being Muslim. Part of being Muslim of course is to acknowledge the role of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) as our mentor and our teacher. Talking about teachers, one ‘side message’ of the video clip is that teachers should not only ‘teach’ in the conventional sense of the word, but should also try to get closer to their students – more like friends! In the present ‘risky’ life condition, especially for our young ones in a city like KL, I feel this is very important - as a way of keeping away bad influences, and in the process, help to create a knowledgeable, responsible, creative and active generation of Muslims!

Q: How did it happen that your first album in Malaysia is produced by Saba Islamic Media?

A: I have been working with Saba Islamic Media since 2005 when they appointed me to produce and also perform in their gala dinner concert called “Sounds of Islam” – one of the three sub-events of the International Islamic Fair 2006 (IIF2006). Part of my job was to come up with a theme instrumental for the event, which to me is so much like producing my own Nasheeds. Saba also chose me to be the director of Sounds of Islam for the next event in the IIF series – the IIF2007 in July’07. Subsequently, as part of IIF’s long term objective of catalyzing progress and development in all the 25 categories of the IIF, of which Nasheed & Islamic Entertainment is one, we have jointly decided to  produce “Ana Muslim” for the Malaysian and the Muslim world market.

Q: How many tracks are there in the album, and who did work on it?

A: The Album consists of 13 tracks, mostly written and composed by me; music arrangement & programming is by the Malaysian based American artist Steve Thornton, Flute by Rohaslam Hizad & Mohar, Percussions by Steve Thornton, Darbuka by M. Kamarulbahri Hussin and Tabla by Kirubakaran A/L Narayansamy. With a lot of help from my friend Faizal Tahir, the album was recorded & mixed by DrumHouse Productions in Kuala Lumpur, photography session by GearBox Studios in Cairo, and published by Warner Chappell.

Track 1, “Be Like Muhammad”, is about what the Prophet (saw) left us for guidance.

Track 2, “Mutaiyam” (‘High’ on Love), is an expression of great and true love of the great Prophet (saw).

Track 3, “Sallo Ma’i” (Pray With Me), showers blessings and prayers upon our beloved Prophet (saw).

Track 4, “Marhaban” (Welcome, I also call it ‘Honour’) - the first ever Nasheed

Track 5, “Adzan” (the call to Prayer), the sound of the call to prayer which was originally and specially produced for the IIF2006 “Sounds of Islam” gala dinner concert.

Track 6, “Tadmeer” (Destruction), is an advice to those who think they “own the world”.

Track 7, “Malak” (Angel), is about the revelation of the first verse of the Qur’an.

Track 8, “Hajj” (Muslim Pilgramage), is another ‘sound’ originally and specially produced for the IIF2006 “Sounds of Islam” gala dinner concert.

Track 9, “Dunia” (Worldly Life), is about how the temptations and ‘invitations’ of this worldly life. Lyrics is inspired by the poem of Sidi Omar bin Al-Faridh (Sultan of Lovers)

Track 10, “Iftar” (Breaking of Fast), is about Eidil Fitri.

Track 11, “Mutaiyam Bik”, is an instrumental version of track no. 2.

Track 12, “Galouli” (They Offered Me), is a Muslim’s response on the publication of the caricatures on the Prophet (saw).

Track 13, “Ana Muslim” (I‘m a Muslim), is about being thankfully proud to be a Muslim.

Q: What do you want to achieve as a player in the world Nasheed industry?

A: Alongside other Nasheed ‘warriors’ of the world, including many in Malaysia, I would like very much to contribute to our joint effort in explaining and popularizing the true Islamic teachings to the whole world. I strongly believe Nasheed, being already very popular in the Muslim world, could one day be a major ‘force’ that talks to the world and brings positive changes to the whole world – both Muslim and non-Muslim!

Q: What message would you like to leave to your audience and to your other fellow Nasheed artists worldwide?

To my audience, I would invite them to consider and possibly make the switch to Nasheed as a superior alternative to ‘normal’ songs. To my fellow Nasheed artists worldwide, I offer my hand of comradeship, and a hope that together we will be able to raise high the position of Nasheed as a source of ‘clean’ and healthy entertainment in the world!