Emad Hamdy
Emad Hamdy wasn't always so self-assured and adventurous. It's been a tough and rewarding journey for this virtuoso artist whose original sound is now cascading through the airwaves. With 'La Foule' running up the charts, we wanted to learn more about this intriguing artist.
BLAKE: When did your recording career begin? What inspired you to first make music?
EMAD HAMDY: I started this career a long time ago. I began Guitar lessons at the age of 13. I graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in England from where I was awarded a scholarship to study guitar performance and composition. I has been teaching classical guitar for more than 15 years at the Modern Studies Music Section (1984-1995) and the Claudio Monterverdi Music Section of the Italian Institute (1984-1990) I also created a guitar academy at Cairo Opera House (2007- this present day) I often perform recitals,chamber works and orchestral works as I was the first guitarist in Egypt who plays guitar solo conterto with Cairo Symphony Orchestra in 1988. When I started to learn playing the guitar by my tutor Mauricio Caroso, I was impressed by his style (fingerstyle) and I liked it so much. Then I decided to learn it by heart and continue in the music career.
BLAKE: Your new single 'La Foule' is currently getting a great response on radio. How would you describe your new single?
EMAD HAMDY: La Foule is one of the well known latin songs. It has a moderate tempo. It includes a smooth transition between the piece parts. One of the audience said "This piece reach my emotions directly and take me to a magical atmosphere"
BLAKE: How do you feel your music has changed this past year?
EMAD HAMDY: In the beginning of my career, I played classic mostly as I believe it was the main pillar of music. Now I direct my music arrangements to soft music, music that people know and love from all eras. I still play classics, of course, but I try to represented it in a way that the audience can enjoy and understand.
BLAKE: What is your creative process when it comes to songwriting?
EMAD HAMDY: During writing, I focus on the core meaning of the piece that I want to deliver to the audience. I also focus on the mean I use to deliver (either the instruments used and their limits or the limits of the singer's voice). These are the main aspects I focus on when I write.
BLAKE: During this creative process, do you feel you work better alone or in a team?
EMAD HAMDY: I like to work alone in a quiet environment as I focus on my arrangements. I like to take care of every single detail in work. I like to make sure that every aspect in work is perfect. Also I work with remarkable artists and performed duets with other instruments as: violin, flute, oud and others. I made the arrangements of the piece so it can be performed by the guitar and the other instrument.
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BLAKE: How do you feel about the Internet in the music business?
EMAD HAMDY: Internet has helped music spread all over the world. It helped me in finding the up-to-date information about music and guitar. It has opened a window for the audience to know anything they want about music, artists, and instruments. It helped many artist to spread their work all over the world and have more audience.
BLAKE: What is the best compliment you've ever received?
EMAD HAMDY: I was performing and a group of Italians were in the audience. They were enjoying the performance so much that one of them came to me and told me that he was touched deeply by the music and that he was about to cry because the music was so emotional. I was overwhelmed by the reaction and It was an amazing feeling.
BLAKE: If you had an extra two hours every day, how would you spend it?
EMAD HAMDY: If I had more time I would have used it to look up the up-to-date information in the music world especially the guitar. I would have expanded my experience in every possible way. If i finished reading and I had more time, I would use it in training and practicing music to keep up my performance.
BLAKE: If you could sit down with one of your favorite artists, who would it be and what would you ask them?
EMAD HAMDY: My favourite artist is Andres Segovia. If I had a chance to ask him a question, I would ask him How did he got this huge energy to transfere the guitar from a local instrument to a respectable instrument that has its position between the orchestra instruments. How he had the energy and inspiration to make the guitar an instrument that can be solo in a concerto while the orchestra instruments are in harmony with it
BLAKE: In your opinion, which decade do you think produced some of the best music to date?
EMAD HAMDY: In my opinion, the best music was made in the period from 1800-1810. It was a period of classical music which contributed a lot to the history of music. From the best known artist (which is one of my favourite artists) is Fernando Sor. He contributed to the development of music with multiple works. His works helped many remarkable guitarists to develop their music
BLAKE: When you are working on a new song, who is the first person you share it with?
EMAD HAMDY: When I am working on a new song I share it with my inspiration source, My Wife. She supports me and share her impression on the song and help me develop it to its best version.
BLAKE: What new music are you working on and when will fans get to hear it?
EMAD HAMDY: I am working on a musical piece that includes an important message to the audience. It represents the feelings of love and peace. I am trying to make the audience understand that we build any society by spreading the love and respect and avoid racism so we all
can live in peace. The world has to filled with the the concepts of love, respect, virtues and accepting each other.
BLAKE: Thank you for letting us get to know you better as an artist. I wish you the best of luck and continued success!
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