Mai Selim
Encyclopedia
Mai Selim Hamdan (born on November 6, 1983 in Dubai
) commonly Known as Mai Selim, is a young Arabic artist who started off her singing career in early 2005. Sister of Comedian Mais Hamdan.
Like many Middle Eastern artists, Mai sings in the Egyptian dialect
, though she was born to a Jordan
ian father and a Lebanese
mother. She's been living in Egypt
ever since she was at a young age and as stated she almost lived her whole life there. She gained a Degree of Business Studies from Maritime Academy
in Egypt
. Though the fact that Mai has always aspired to be a Ballerina when she was young, and at a later time of her life she wanted to join Institute Of Cinema in Egypt
. Mai was talked out of it by her parents, who were worried for her to have an unstable future for her if she pursued in this field.
Mai herself admits that luck has played big part in her being of where she is right now. She said:
"I won't lie and give you the clichéd line of I've been working towards this all my life since I was a child and all that
stuff. I knew I had a very strong artistic side to me, and I had a strong passion towards music, but I never thought I'd
make a career out of it one day" - source: www.fame-music.net
It all started when Mai was invited over to a dinner and she has met Tarek Al Arian, who is a well known director/producer and one of the co-founders of Fame Music (music production company & record label). Throughout the conversations and discussions, Al Arian knew about Mai's singing talent, and so he gave her an appointment to audition for Fame Music.
Immediately, Mai has become one of Fame Music's artists and was off to the preparation.
On another level, Mai had to prepare and record her album. Many well known composers and producers has worked with Mai on the album like Mamdouh Salah, Mahmoud Yehya, Amr Tantawi, Mohammad Nour, Ahmad Fahmi, Tarek Tawakkol and Osama el Hendi. Her album was titled "Albi Byehlam
" which means My Heart Is Dreaming.
, Lebanon
. The video is a story of a simple girl with a crush of the guy who is living right opposite to her flat. The video contains some chreography and slight acting.
The next video was "Tāl" by Ahmad Youssri, this video differs a bit from the first one. The video got no specific storyline, but just a theme of bright colours (white) and in a large studio. The director is Egyptian and the video was shot in Egypt
.
Mai was also featured in the patriotic song "Akeed Fi Masr" (For Sure In Egypt
) with Mahmoud El Esseily and Mahmoud El Keilany. The video was made along with others for an Egyptian patriotic campaign. Although many has directed questions to Mai of why she participated and she's originally Jordanian-Lebanese, but she stated that she considers Egypt
her hometown because this is where she lived -still living- her whole life.
Mai had an appearance in Hala Sarhan's talkshow, Hala Show along with the first Arabic all boy band WAMA. Noticed that 3 out of 4 members of WAMA has contributed in Mai's debut Album. She showed other talents in the show, like acting and imitating in an atmosphere of humor. This was a big step for Mai to be widely recognized since Hala Show is an important art talk show in the Pan Arab audience.
(Arabic: احلوت الأيام)
In 2010, she released the album Lina Kalam Baaden (Arabic: لينا كلام بعدين).
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
) commonly Known as Mai Selim, is a young Arabic artist who started off her singing career in early 2005. Sister of Comedian Mais Hamdan.
Musical debut
She made her appearance to the community through her two video clips which are "Alby Byehlam" and "Tāl" which were directed by both Ahmad Yousri and Caroline Labaki. The two video clips/songs noticed a huge acceptance by the Arabic audience, in fact they were both a remarkable successes for this new artist.and she has a sis working in the business as wellLike many Middle Eastern artists, Mai sings in the Egyptian dialect
Egyptian Arabic
Egyptian Arabic is the language spoken by contemporary Egyptians.It is more commonly known locally as the Egyptian colloquial language or Egyptian dialect ....
, though she was born to a Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian father and a 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...
mother. She's been living in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ever since she was at a young age and as stated she almost lived her whole life there. She gained a Degree of Business Studies from Maritime Academy
Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport
The Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport is an organization specialized in Science and Technology and Maritime Transport....
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Though the fact that Mai has always aspired to be a Ballerina when she was young, and at a later time of her life she wanted to join Institute Of Cinema in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Mai was talked out of it by her parents, who were worried for her to have an unstable future for her if she pursued in this field.
Mai herself admits that luck has played big part in her being of where she is right now. She said:
"I won't lie and give you the clichéd line of I've been working towards this all my life since I was a child and all that
stuff. I knew I had a very strong artistic side to me, and I had a strong passion towards music, but I never thought I'd
make a career out of it one day" - source: www.fame-music.net
It all started when Mai was invited over to a dinner and she has met Tarek Al Arian, who is a well known director/producer and one of the co-founders of Fame Music (music production company & record label). Throughout the conversations and discussions, Al Arian knew about Mai's singing talent, and so he gave her an appointment to audition for Fame Music.
Immediately, Mai has become one of Fame Music's artists and was off to the preparation.
The Workshop
Mai took around a year to prepare her debut album and appearance. She started off to get Vocal Rehearsals by Dr. Jehan Nasser (Professor at The Higher Institute of Arabic Music). Mai has described her experience through the preparation with the company as a total star makeover, where you get to learn how to Walk the walk, and talk the talk. It wasn't so hard for her, still it was something she enjoyed because she was pursuing her dream.On another level, Mai had to prepare and record her album. Many well known composers and producers has worked with Mai on the album like Mamdouh Salah, Mahmoud Yehya, Amr Tantawi, Mohammad Nour, Ahmad Fahmi, Tarek Tawakkol and Osama el Hendi. Her album was titled "Albi Byehlam
Albi Byehlam
Albi Byehlam is a 2005 album by Mai Selim. It been released in early summer 2005 and made a great success.-Track listing:# "Tāl" – 3:38# "Albi Byehlam" – 3:15# "Elly Byes'al" – 3:50# "Law Kont Hases" – 4:12...
" which means My Heart Is Dreaming.
The Visuals
As stated, Mai's first video was "Alby Byehlam" which was directed by the talented Caroline Labaki and was shot in BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
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...
. The video is a story of a simple girl with a crush of the guy who is living right opposite to her flat. The video contains some chreography and slight acting.
The next video was "Tāl" by Ahmad Youssri, this video differs a bit from the first one. The video got no specific storyline, but just a theme of bright colours (white) and in a large studio. The director is Egyptian and the video was shot in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Mai was also featured in the patriotic song "Akeed Fi Masr" (For Sure In Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
) with Mahmoud El Esseily and Mahmoud El Keilany. The video was made along with others for an Egyptian patriotic campaign. Although many has directed questions to Mai of why she participated and she's originally Jordanian-Lebanese, but she stated that she considers Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
her hometown because this is where she lived -still living- her whole life.
Mai had an appearance in Hala Sarhan's talkshow, Hala Show along with the first Arabic all boy band WAMA. Noticed that 3 out of 4 members of WAMA has contributed in Mai's debut Album. She showed other talents in the show, like acting and imitating in an atmosphere of humor. This was a big step for Mai to be widely recognized since Hala Show is an important art talk show in the Pan Arab audience.
Subsequent work
In 2008, she released the album Ehlawet El Ayam(Arabic: احلوت الأيام)
In 2010, she released the album Lina Kalam Baaden (Arabic: لينا كلام بعدين).