Artist Sarah Al-Hani Returns to the Art Scene with “My Suffering”

A New Chapter in Her Career

Artist Sarah Al-Hani left a void on the art scene since her absence for about ten years. Many wondered where she is? And why this distance? Today she returns with the song “My Suffering” in the Gulf dialect. It was written by the Saudi poet Qaws, composed by his compatriot Sahm, and crowned with the Lebanese distributor, musician Omar Sabbagh.

The Story Behind the Song

Sarah sings her personal story in this recently released work. However, she stresses that she is telling similar stories to several people. She explains to Asharq Al-Awsat: “I translate my condition and the condition of every person who has felt suffering. It is natural to say that I conveyed through it the feelings that overwhelmed me during a period of suffering that I lived. At the same time, I am addressing those who have gone through similar experiences.”

A New Home in Saudi Arabia

She says she is lucky to live in Saudi Arabia and has always wanted to live in Riyadh (Sarah Al-Hani)

In the past period, Sarah Al-Hani experienced deep sadness over the loss of her sister Lina in a car accident. Is her new song related to this tragic event? She replies: “Not at all. The subject of my sister remains far removed from what I address in it.” “I refrain from depicting this subject in a song. No matter how much I sing, I will not be able to do her justice. Her departure is a wound that has caused me great sorrow and emptiness in my heart. The subject of the song is completely separate from her, and there is no connection between them.”

Preparing for Her Return

Sarah Al-Hani currently resides in Saudi Arabia. She made the decision to settle there about three years ago. Some thought that she got married and traveled to live with her husband there. What are the reasons behind her decision? She told Asharq Al-Awsat: “I made the decision to reside in Saudi Arabia with full conviction. I have always wanted to live in Riyadh. There is no marriage or anything like that for me to take this step. If I ever get married, I will announce this news publicly.” Al-Hani continued: “I am lucky to live here. My decision coincided with the Kingdom’s great openness after a while. It was as if I realized that it was about to witness great development. Also, the idea of ​​singing in the Gulf dialect was the first motivation for me to settle there.”

The Song’s Production

The song was filmed in Beirut with director Nader Moussalli, whom she describes as a great talent (Sarah Al-Hani)

Sarah Al-Hani told Asharq Al-Awsat that she had been preparing for this song for about a year. “I love this genre by nature, and I know that it is difficult to master. It required training and practice. I am a fan of Gulf poetry, especially since I am a fan of poetry in general. The sung word means a lot to the people of the Gulf, and they do not underestimate it. Their melodies are also distinguished by their beautiful rhythm. There is no doubt that they have developed artistically over time, but at the same time they have maintained the level of their songs. The Saudi audience is a jury in itself. Whoever succeeds in singing in front of them has passed the test. The Saudi audience has an excellent appreciation for art. On the other hand, mistakes are forbidden in Gulf songs. They do not tolerate this issue.”

Refusing to Follow Trends

Trends do not interest me and I have never followed them. My conviction requires me to present what I love.

Sarah Al-Hani

Looking to the Future

Throughout her stay in Saudi Arabia, Sarah was keen to search for the desired work to return to the scene with. “It was very difficult to achieve this return after an absence with an ordinary song, and not at the required level. It is not related to the Gulf market, but here I found what I was looking for. I dealt with the most important makers of Gulf songs. I am happy with the interaction that the song achieved.”

She confirmed that preparing for the song “My Suffering” took about a year (Sarah Al-Hani)

Conclusion

I dealt with the most important Gulf song makers and I am happy with the interaction that “My Suffering” achieved.

Sarah Al-Hani

FAQs

Q: What inspired you to return to the art scene after a 10-year absence?
A: I translated my condition and the condition of every person who has felt suffering. It is natural to say that I conveyed through it the feelings that overwhelmed me during a period of suffering that I lived. At the same time, I am addressing those who have gone through similar experiences.

Q: What motivated you to settle in Saudi Arabia?
A: I made the decision to reside in Saudi Arabia with full conviction. I have always wanted to live in Riyadh. There is no marriage or anything like that for me to take this step. If I ever get married, I will announce this news publicly.

Q: What do you hope to achieve with your new song?
A: I hope to collaborate with Marwan Khoury and I expect that his melodies will suit my singing style.

Q: What’s next for you?
A: We did not want to wait for a full album for this comeback. I consider (My Suffering) to be the greeting I give to Sarah Al-Hani’s fans. While waiting for the upcoming works and their readiness, I promise my fans that I will not be absent from them for long from today. I am happy with the love and welcome I received from everyone, and I am proud of the artistic group I chose to record this comeback with. I consider myself to have passed the test, and the best is yet to come.