Maher Zain
Encyclopedia
Maher Zain is a Muslim
Swedish
R&B
singer, songwriter and music producer of Lebanese
origin. His debut album Thank You Allah
, an internationally successful album with strong Muslim religious influences, was released in 2009.
. After university he entered the music industry in Sweden and linked up with RedOne
, the Moroccan
born Swedish producer.
When RedOne
moved to New York in 2006 Maher Zain followed soon after to continue his music industry career in the USA producing for artists such as Kat DeLuna
. On a visit home to Sweden he became engaged once more with his Islamic faith and decided to move away from a career as a music producer to become a singer/songwriter of contemporary R&B music with a strong Muslim religious influence.
. His debut album was Thank You Allah
, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks was released on 1 November 2009 with percussion versions and French versions of some tracks released shortly afterwards.
Zain and Awakening Records successfully used new media such as Facebook
, YouTube
and iTunes
to promote tracks from the album. In early 2010 his music very quickly gathered a huge online following in Arabic speaking and Islamic countries as well as among young Muslims in western countries. By the end of 2010 he was the most Googled celebrity in Malaysia for that year. Malaysia is also the country where he has had the most commercial success. The album Thank You Allah
received 8 Platinum awards from Warner Music Malaysia as the highest selling album of 2010. In 2011, Thank You Allah earned a double platinum award from Sony Music Indonesia.
Zain sings mainly in English but has released some of his most popular songs in other languages. The song "Insha Allah", for example, is now available in English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Malay and Indonesian versions. Another song, “Allahi Allah Kiya Karo” (“Continuously Saying Allah”), is sung in Urdu
and features the Pakistan
born Canadian singer Irfan Makki.
In March 2011, Maher Zain released "Freedom", a song inspired by the events and the actions of the people taking part in the Arab Spring
. In July 2011 he featured on the cover of the UK Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel.
Zain was featured on Irfan Makki's track "I Believe" from his debut studio album of the same name.
Featured in:
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Swedish
Swedes
Swedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer, songwriter and music producer of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
origin. His debut album Thank You Allah
Thank You Allah
Thank You Allah is the first studio album by Muslim Swedish singer Maher Zain. The album was released on November 1, 2009 by Awakening Records, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks. Maher's debut album is accompanied by three singles, each with its own music video. The album has achieved eight-time...
, an internationally successful album with strong Muslim religious influences, was released in 2009.
Career
Maher Zain and his family moved to Sweden when he was eight years old. He completed his schooling there gaining a Bachelors degree in Aeronautical EngineeringAerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
. After university he entered the music industry in Sweden and linked up with RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, the Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
born Swedish producer.
When RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
moved to New York in 2006 Maher Zain followed soon after to continue his music industry career in the USA producing for artists such as Kat DeLuna
Kat DeLuna
Kathleen Emperatriz "Kat" DeLuna is an American pop singer of Dominican heritage. DeLuna has a soprano vocal range. Her debut single, "Whine Up", reached the top ten in Belgium and France, peaked inside the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her...
. On a visit home to Sweden he became engaged once more with his Islamic faith and decided to move away from a career as a music producer to become a singer/songwriter of contemporary R&B music with a strong Muslim religious influence.
Breakthrough success and Thank You Allah
In January 2009, Maher Zain began working on an album with Awakening RecordsAwakening Records
Awakening Records was created in 2000 to offer a wide range of products for a new modern Islamic market. Combining modern manufacturing and contemporary design, they have introduced many new recording artists to the Islamic nasheed and music market....
. His debut album was Thank You Allah
Thank You Allah
Thank You Allah is the first studio album by Muslim Swedish singer Maher Zain. The album was released on November 1, 2009 by Awakening Records, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks. Maher's debut album is accompanied by three singles, each with its own music video. The album has achieved eight-time...
, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks was released on 1 November 2009 with percussion versions and French versions of some tracks released shortly afterwards.
Zain and Awakening Records successfully used new media such as Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
to promote tracks from the album. In early 2010 his music very quickly gathered a huge online following in Arabic speaking and Islamic countries as well as among young Muslims in western countries. By the end of 2010 he was the most Googled celebrity in Malaysia for that year. Malaysia is also the country where he has had the most commercial success. The album Thank You Allah
Thank You Allah
Thank You Allah is the first studio album by Muslim Swedish singer Maher Zain. The album was released on November 1, 2009 by Awakening Records, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks. Maher's debut album is accompanied by three singles, each with its own music video. The album has achieved eight-time...
received 8 Platinum awards from Warner Music Malaysia as the highest selling album of 2010. In 2011, Thank You Allah earned a double platinum award from Sony Music Indonesia.
Zain sings mainly in English but has released some of his most popular songs in other languages. The song "Insha Allah", for example, is now available in English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Malay and Indonesian versions. Another song, “Allahi Allah Kiya Karo” (“Continuously Saying Allah”), is sung in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and features the Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
born Canadian singer Irfan Makki.
In March 2011, Maher Zain released "Freedom", a song inspired by the events and the actions of the people taking part in the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
. In July 2011 he featured on the cover of the UK Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel.
Zain was featured on Irfan Makki's track "I Believe" from his debut studio album of the same name.
Albums
| Year | Title | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Thank You Allah Thank You Allah Thank You Allah is the first studio album by Muslim Swedish singer Maher Zain. The album was released on November 1, 2009 by Awakening Records, with 13 songs and two bonus tracks. Maher's debut album is accompanied by three singles, each with its own music video. The album has achieved eight-time... |
8X platinum in Malaysia 2X platinum in Indonesia |
Singles
- 2009: "Palestine Will Be Free"
- 2010: "Insha Allah"
- 2010: "The Chosen One"
- 2011: "Freedom"
- 2011: "Ya Nabi Salam Alayka"
- 2011: "For The Rest Of My Life"
Featured in:
- 2011: "I Believe" (Irfan Makki feat. Maher Zain)
Awards
- In January 2010, Maher Zain won Best Religious Song for 'Ya Nabi Salam Alayka', on Nujoom FM, the Middle East's biggest mainstream music station. He beat other prominent singers including Hussein Al-Jismi, Mohammed Mounir and Sami YusufSami YusufSami Yusuf is a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist musician of Azeri origin.In 2003 Yusuf released his first album "Al-Mu`allim" at the age of 23, selling over two million copies...
.