Maya Nasri
Encyclopedia
Early life and beginnings
Maya Hussam Asmar or better known by her stage name, Maya Nasri (Arabic:مايا نصري) is a popular Lebanese singer. She was born in a small town in Northern Lebanon Miniara and later moved with her family to Beirut. There she joined the Lebanese University of Fine Arts to study stage, TV and cinema acting and directing. She acted in Lebanese series theater plays and movies. In 1996 she worked in the national TV but later made the transition to becoming a singer in 1999. She participated in the television show "Kas Al-Nojom" where she sang the famous songs of the late big Egyptian star "Layla Mourad" .She won all three gold cups. After her victory she began to work vigorously on creating her debut album. Nasri achieved fame when she entered the Arabic music industry with her debut single "Khallini Bel Jaw". Since then, she has released four studio albums, working with several Arabic composers like Ziad Boutros, Marwan Khoury, Mhammad Rahim, Mhammad Rifai, Samir Sfeir, and Salah SharnoubyMusical career
Nasri first gained attention with the release of her album Akhbarak Eih...?. It exceeded expectations and was well received in Lebanon. The three singles "Akhbarak Eih?", "Ya Waheshni", and "Khalini Biljao" boosted Maya to her fame. The singles topped the charts in LebanonLebanon
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...
, 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...
, 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...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and all of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. The album achieved record sales and Nasri became a household name. As a result of her album's success, Nasri embarked on two sold-out concert tours in the Middle East and in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
After taking a short break, Nasri returned with a new album, Law Kan Lak Alb. Law Kan Lak Alb was successful and received excellent reviews. It topped charts throughout the Middle East. The album's second single, "Habbit Hob" also achieved great success. It topped various charts and achieved extensive radio play. The album once again achieved record sales. She then released the single "Ana Bahtaglak" in season one of Star Academy Lebanon
Star Academy Lebanon
Star Academy Arab World, also known as Star Academy: Al-Academya or Star Academy LBC, is a pan-Arab televised talent show, which began in 2003 that features a group of young male and female candidates from all over the Arab world....
.
In July 2005, Izzay Te'rafni was released under the production company Rotana. The album produced two singles: "Rooh", "Al Asmarani". "Rooh" was an immediate success which topped countless charts across the Middle East. Nasri then released the single "Al Asmarani", which was also successful. It remained number one on various charts throughout the Middle East for over six weeks. After the success of "Al Asmarani", Nasri decided to release the last single off the album. "Shou Feeha Law", which was composed by Lebanese composer Samir Sfeir, was also successful. Fans have requested Nasri to film it, however this was not done due to war in Lebanon.
Jayi lwa't (The Time is Coming) was released in February 2008. The title song was composed by Marwan Khoury
Marwan Khoury
Marwan Khoury is a Lebanese singer, writer, composer and music arranger. His compositions are performed by some of the most famous artists in the Arab World and adapted by many other countries including Turkey...
. The cinema clip was directed by Egyptian Director Ahmad Elmahdy.
Acting career
Maya has received countless offers to perform in Egyptian movies, considering her talent in acting directors discovered in Maya's cinema clips, not knowing her studies were in the same field .February 2007 witnessed the birth of Maya the Movie Star, by the release of the Egyptian movie " Code 36 " starring for the first time " Maya Nasri " and Egyptian Jeune Premier " Mostafa Sha'aban "..Since they started promoting the movie, Maya released a single "Ana Kont Eih" as a trailer and there started the offers for other big movies and series. The movie was not well reviewed by the critics but " Maya was the surprise of the movie and the only good thing there ." said Arab magazines. They all expected Maya to be a big movie star very soon. In September 2007, "Ramadan" month in Muslim calender where we see lots of Egyptian series with big stars, Maya starred for the first time in Egypt in the Egyptian series " Sultan El Gharam" with the star actor Khaled Saleh and it was a big hit in the Arab world. In December 2007 was released the second movie " Khareg 'ala Lqanon "starring Maya with the big egyptian movie star " Karim Abdel'aziz ". During its first week it grossed EGPEgyptian pound
The Egyptian Pound is the currency of Egypt. It is divided into 100 Qirsh , or 1,000 Milliemes ....
7 million (USD 1.5 million). In March 2008 Maya started shooting a new Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
series Wekalet Aatiyya starring Houssein Fahmy and Ahmad Bedeir and directed by Ra'fat Elmihi. In the series Nasri plays the role of a Palestinian woman who ran away from Palestine in 1948. It is expected in Ramadan 2009. The series will during Ramadan 2009. In November 2008 Nasri's third film was released. Entitled Bamboozi, the film is directed by Ihab Lamey and also stars Hasan Hosny and Ezzat Abou Aof with young actor Khaled Sarhan. Lamey chose Nasri to be the female main role. The movie is a political black comedy, and is scheduled to be released in June 2009. In March 2009 Nasri began shooting another television series, Rijal al Hasm. In the series she plays the role of the role of Miraj, an officer in the Israeli Mossad . Concerning her role, Nasri said, "I am so proud that finally I will be able to show how bad the Israeli enemies are."
Discography
- Akhbarak Eih? (2001) (How are you doing?)
- Law Kan Lak Alb (2003) (If You Had a Heart)
- Izzay Te’rafni (2005) (How Do You Know Me?)
- Jayi Lwa't (2008) (The Time is Coming..)
Singles
- "Enta habib 3yone" (1999)
- "Akher Hammi" (1999)
- "Ana Bahtaglak" (2004)
- "Aywa Keda" (2006/2007)
- "Ana Kont Eh" (2006/2007)
Videography
- "Khallini bel Jaw" (2001)
- "Akhbarak Eih..?" (2001) - Tony Abou Elias
- "Ya Waheshni (2002)" - Myirna khayyat
- "Law Kan Lak Alb (2003)" - Ahmad El Mahdi
- "Ana Bahtaglak (2004)" - Mirna Khayyat Abou-Elias
- "Habit Hob (2004)" - Mhd. Gomea
- "Al Asmarani (2005)" - Salim elTurk
- "Rouh (2006)" - Emile Slaylati
- "Jaye ElWa2t" (2008) - Ahmad El Mahdi
Filmography
- Code 36 (2007) - Egyptian movie
- Sultan elGharam ("Sultan of Love") (2007) - Egyptian TV series
- Kharej An elQanoun ("Against the Law") (2007) - Egyptian movie
- Wekalet Atiyya (2008) - Egyptian TV series
- Bamboozia (2009) - Egyptian movie
- Rijal Alhasm (2009) - Syrian TV series