Fusion band Imbue are gearing up to bring Arabic lyrics and jazz, Bossa Nova and Latin melodies to The Fridge for a gig on May 2. It’s the first of a series of concerts taking place at the intimate venue in Dubai’s hipster gathering spot, Al Serkal Avenue.
Imbue began many years ago as a partnership between lead vocalist-guitarist Maher Al Halabi and his lyricist friend Bassel Abu Fadel in Syria. Abu Fadel would write, and Al Halabi would compose. Today, that collaboration continues, despite Al Halabi now living in Dubai.
“Bassel and I have been friends since we were young. Since our school days, he would write and I would compose. We’re used to it — we’re used to him making me hear something, and me doing the same. Or he’ll read me something, and I’ll do the same. I’ve known Basel since grade 10 — we were 14, 15,” said Al Halabi.
In 2014, the rest of Imbue began to take shape. During auditions at the Fridge, Al Halabi met Cuban flautist Malena Avila, and was introduced to Colombian-American drummer Juan Manuel Arenas. Through Facebook, they met Lebanese bassist-vocalist Jeffrey Ayache. They put out their debut single, Bhebbak (I Love You), and performed their first show at SIKKA Festival.
“We got along together very well. They loved the music — and they added their flavour, their touch. It’s team work. Malena and Juan are Latino and have deep knowledge of music and jazz, and Jeffrey is a very good musician — he always had gigs in Beirut,” said Al Halabi.
He told tabloid! why fusion was their calling, and what the future holds for his band.
How did you end up with the idea of putting Arabic music to jazz and Bossa Nova melodies?
I used to be in a rock band, and I didn’t sing [in] Arabic at all. Then I fell in love with jazz, and especially Bossa Nova, so we started singing in English. But my friend, the lyricist, had written a song in Arabic, Bhebbak, nearly 15 years ago. The first experiment was just that: ‘Let me try to use Arabic words.’ I was inspired by [Lebanese musical family] the Rahbanis, to be honest. Ziad Al Rahbani, especially. I also really loved [composer] Marcel [Khalife]. I was inspired by... jazz musicians — I can’t name them, there are so many.
And now, does Bassel still write the lyrics?
Still. He’s in Syria, but he sends the words, the lyrics, and I compose them and add a melody and send them back. We work long distance. When I finalise it, we take it to the band, and if they like it, we work on it. Sometimes we retouch it — sometimes we take things out, put things in, until it’s in good shape.
What’s the latest original music you’ve been working on? Is there plans for an album?
We re-recorded Bhebbak in a cleaner way, recently. We were part of a project called Go Play the World, and the [compilation] album is available on iTunes. We’re planning to record [our own] album — but not yet, because the budget is too high. We have nearly 16 original songs, almost ready, but it needs a budget. A big budget.
How did you come up with the name Imbue?
Bassel came up with the name. To be imbued with something, like imbued with colour, you’re filled with colour or you’ve soaked up colour. Imbued with music, it means you’re euphoric with it. It’s an artistic name — Imbue is one of the most beautiful words in the English dictionary. Even English and American people often don’t know what it means — which is weird — but it’s one of the most beautiful words in English.
*Entrance to see Imbur at The Fridge is Dh50 (free for under 18s). Hear their music at imbueband.com.
