Bright future for Qatar’s dynamic new multicultural music scene

Qatar is fast gaining a reputation for its diverse and dynamic music scene, from local rising stars to international artists and award-winning producers attracted by the state of the art music facilities. And as the FIFA World CUP Qatar 2022 fast approaches Qatari singer Aisha, has recorded the lead single Hayya Hayya, (Better Together) for the official Qatar 2022 soundtrack.

Matt Howe is a Qatar-based British sound engineer, who won a Grammy in 1999 for his work on Lauryn Hill’s massive selling and hugely influential album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. Matt was attracted to Qatar because he says he was interested in and wanted to learn more about Middle-Eastern music.

“Coming here was good for me because I wanted to know a little bit more about Middle- Eastern music, such as Khaleeji, we’re in the Gulf region. Something I can learn from, for myself… that I can then… may be when I go back home I can make recommendations. This is a word-of-mouth industry and if you play your A game and if you can connect with others, that’s really good.”

Matt is the Chief Sound Engineer, at Katara Studios, that is set to be an audio-visual leader in the Middle East an it's here that the uplifting lead single, Hayya Hayya, (Better Together)__, was produced. But it doesn’t end there for them, because for the first time the tournament’s soundtrack will feature multiple songs, bringing together international artists and sounds, in-keeping with the global nature of the tournament itself.

Mazen Murad, is Director of Music at Katara Studios.

“This has been very interesting, bringing in all sorts of people to work together – and they love it! The Western artists are excited by the percussion players and the Qatari singers – and vice versa.”

Mazen