Maher Jahjah (Arabic: ماهر جهجاه; born September 7, 1990), known professionally as Maher Jah (Arabic: ماهر جاه), is a Lebanese pop and Arab folk-pop singer-songwriter.[1] He is the recipient of the silver medal in the pan-Arab-celebrated talent competition show Studio El Fan.[1][2] Jah is known for his upbeat Arab folk tabl and percussion-heavy songs.[3] His live concerts are especially popular in the Lebanese and Arab nightlife scene, in the Arab world,[4][3] and within the Arab-speaking diaspora.[5][3] A number of his songs reached the Official Lebanese Top 20 chart.[6][7]
Maher Jah | |
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Birth name | Maher Fawaz Jahjah ماهر فواز جهجاه |
Born | Hasbaya, Lebanon | September 7, 1990
Genres | Arabic pop and folk-pop |
Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2010–present |
Early life
editMaher Fawaz Jahjah was born on September 7, 1990, in Hasbaya, a town in Lebanon's Nabatieh Governorate. As a child, he had a strong interest in music and singing,[1][3] but he hailed from a modest household and had to work as a youth to supplement his family's income.[8] Jah resisted his father's initial pressure to pursue a military career, and was later encouraged by his entourage, including his father, to cultivate his developing musical talents.[9] At the age of 19, he participated in Studio El Fan, Lebanon's top star-maker talent show, and earned second place in the 'Classical Song' category. Despite the promise of a successful career in music, Jah pursued academic training and obtained a degree in architecture and topography from the Omar al-Mukhtar Institute in Lebanon in 2013.[1][10][3]
Career
editIn 2013, Maher Jah moved for work to the United Arab Emirates, and it was during his time in the UAE that he debuted singing professionally. Four years later, he returned to Lebanon and joined Taiga artist management. His first collaboration with Taiga Shefta Nayme, was met with popular acclaim. Jah's subsequent collaborations with Taiga, Wtʿazabet, Mish Leʿbi, Inte Hiye, and Akher Hami, were all Lebanese chart-topping songs.[4][1][6] His breakthrough to a wider regional audience came with Bala Asl, in 2021.[1][11] The following year, he released other self-written and produced songs including Alam Al Homra and Ghayrak Chab.[5][12][13] Ghayrak Chab reached Top 5 on The Official Lebanese Top 20 upon its release in January 2023.[7]
Jah is known for his pragmatic song choice, and for his energetic folk and popular songs renditions.[3][14] He stated in a radio interview with Australia's SBS that he opted to follow the mainstream current of Arab folk tabl and percussion-heavy songs, which is trending with a large section of Arab young public.[3] His work and live concerts are especially popular in the Lebanese and Arab nightlife scene,[4][3] as well among the Arab-speaking diaspora in Arab states of the Persian Gulf,[5] the Americas, Europe, and Australia.[3]
Personal life
editJah volunteered with the Lebanese Red Cross, in addition to his work and studies.[10][9] He is married to Aya Al-Hassanieh, they have one child together.[15][16][17]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Merheb, Elie (2023-03-13). "ما لا تعرفونه عن الفنان اللبناني ماهر جاه" [What you do not know about Lebanese artist Maher Jah]. Btrending (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Entertainment Tonight Bel Arabi (2022-01-09). "ماهر جاه يحقق النجاح بعد 11 سنة على تخرجه من إستديو الفن!" [Maher Jah, 11 years after his "Studio El Fan" graduation]. ET بالعربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Jah, Maher (2022-12-16). "الفنان ماهر جاه: يصفني البعض بالفوقية وهذه أسباب نجاحاتي [Maher Jah: Some say I'm conceited… this is why I'm succeeding]". Bayt Al Mazzika (Interview). Interviewed by Sanae Ouahib. Special Broadcasting Service.
- ^ a b c Sawt Beirut International (2020-07-02). "ماهر جاه: "آخر همي"" [Maher Jah: "The least of my concerns"]. Sawt Beirut International. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b c VDL editorial (2023-01-17). "ماهر جاه يشعل اجواء لبنان، قطر والامارات بوقت قياسي" [Maher Jah live concerts in Lebanon, Qatar and the Emirates]. Voix du Liban (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ a b Ipsos Group (2023). "Artist chart history - Maher Jah". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- ^ a b Ipsos Group. "Artist chart history - Maher Jah". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- ^ Aridi, Mona (2022-02-05). "خاص نجوم الفن والمشاهير:" ماهر جاه " إبن الأصل "إسمٌ فرض نفسه بعفويته وإحتل الرقم الأول في عالم السهر والدليل" من اثنين...للإثنين"" [Exclusive: Maher Jah, "Ibn el Asl" - A nightlife mainstay of nightlife full of spontaneity]. Nojoom el Fan (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ a b Shalhoub, Raghida (2022-12-31). "ماهر جاه بأجواء استثنائية ليلة رأس السنة على الجديد مع راغدة شلهوب..ولماذا احـرق الدواليب في مدرسته؟[Maher Jah in an exceptional interview on New Year's Eve on Al Jadeed TV with Raghda Shalhoub tells why he burned mosquito spirals in school?]" (Interview).
- ^ a b El-Bitar, Assaad (2022-04-22). "النجم ماهر جاه يصرّح حصريًّا لبرنامج "المزح نصّو جدّ" عن إطلاقه أغنية عراقية في أواخر الصيف المقبل.. ويختار ميريام فارس لدويتو غنائي" ["Al-Mazkah Nasu Jed" exclusive: Star Maher Jah to release an Iraqi song by summer's end, and would choose Myriam Fares for a lyrical duet]. Al-Aan (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Ne7na Magazine (2021-05-31). "ماهر جاه يطرح أحدث أغنياته.. بلا اصل" [Maher Jah releases his latest song Bala Asl] (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ MTV Lebanon (2023-02-16). "ماهر جاه يحيي حفلات عيد الحب بنجاحٍ وبأجواء مميزة" [Maher Jah's special Valentine's Day performances]. MTV Lebanon (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Al-Wasat Libya staff (2022-12-22). "بالفيديو: اللبناني ماهر جاه يطرح غيرك شب" [Video: The Lebanese Maher Jah releases "Ghayrak Chab"]. Al-Wasat (in Arabic). Cairo, Egypt. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Jah, Maher (2022-07-22). "الفنان ماهر جاه يتحدث لـ "مشاهير" عن بدايته الفنية.. وهذا هو جنـ ـس مولوده الأول [Artist Maher Jah tells "Mashahir" about his artistic beginnings ..and the gender of his newborn]" (Interview). Interviewed by Chantale Kazzi, Mohammad Kabbani.
- ^ Ahwal media (2022-03-24). "الفنان ماهر جاه إلى القفص الذهبي" [Artist Maher Jah in the "Golden Cage"]. أحوال ميديا (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (2022-03-22). "ماهر جاه يكشف عن صورة حبيبته قبل 48 ساعة من زواجهما" [Maher Jah introduces his betrothed, 48 hours before their marriage]. LBCIV7 (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ Abdallah, Hanan (2022-12-30). "ماهر جاه يطلق أغنيته "غيرك شب"" [Maher Jah releases his song "Gayhrak Shab"]. Monte Carlo Doualiya (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-03-20.