Kinda Hassan discusses music and networking
By Matthew Mosley
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
BEIRUT: Such is the multidisciplinary nature of Beirut’s artistic community that a video artist running a record label doesn’t
sound like such a surprising idea.
According to Kinda Hassan, whose
work has recently been shown as
part of Ashkal Alwan’s “Video
Works” screenings and the Beirut
Art Center’s exhibition “4,” the
combination is beneficial to all
concerned.
“I need what they need in terms of
artist promotion,” she says,
referring to the musicians signed up
to the eka3 [pronounced “Ekaa”]
record label. “Also, I know the
ground, I know the people: I’m a
part of the scene.”
Hassan runs the Lebanon branch of
eka3, which has a foot planted in
three regional cities: Amman, Cairo
and Beirut. Founded by the
Palestinian musician Tamer Abu
Ghazaleh in June 2007, the aim was
to have an artist-led label that
promoted the musicians over the
albums they produce.
“I was already in love with the
music produced by eka3, but as an
audience member rather than as an
industry insider,” says Hassan. “But
when Tamer suggested that I start
up the label in Beirut I thought he was crazy.”
Hassan started her research in February 2008, looking at issues such as how
albums might be distributed, the logistics of shipping, and the process of
bringing artists on board. By May 2008 eka3 was officially launched in Lebanon.
“The idea with eka3 is to create a scene,” says Hassan. “This is very important.
All these artists speak the same language and they are involved in similar
projects. But they have only had very small audiences open to them.
“We are a regional label that functions locally. We are trying to make the region
smaller.”
An example of the type of local knowledge that is contributing to eka3’s success
is the distribution method used by Hassan in Beirut.
“I know the profile of our customers,” says Hassan. “I know they’re likely to go
to exhibitions at the Beirut Art Center or pick up accessories from House on Mars
or go for coffee at Café Younes in Hamra. So I’ve started to distribute in all these
places.”
Although Beirut is known for a relatively healthy, if small, underground music
scene, Hassan and her associates haven’t had a completely smooth ride.
“There is a lack of professionalism,” she says. “So many people call themselves
sound engineers, for example, but they don’t know what they’re doing.
“Also there’s a lack of proper music venues. We keep finding ourselves installing
sound equipment in theaters that weren’t built for music performance.”
Another barrier has been
the perception of Arabic
music from local outlets.
“I’ve sent our music to
Lebanese radio stations
who told me, ‘We don’t play
Arabic music,’” Hassan
continues. “I told them,
‘You need to listen to this
music. We’re trying to do
something different.’”
Despite these hurdles, the
fledgling label has
progressed by leaps and
bounds. Hassan has been
surprised by the reception
of the eka3 project among
Lebanon’s musical
community. “At first I felt a little scared about getting in touch with musicians,”
says Hassan. “But they’ve all been very interested in the idea.”
Among the more high-profile artists who have thrown their lot in with the label is
Joelle Khoury, the pianist and composer whose most recent release, “Dream She
Is,” an operatic work in Arabic created with the soprano Fadia al-Hage, was
released on eka3.
“It works out for both us,” Khoury says. “I add to their credibility because I’m
established, and associated with the conservatoire [Khoury teaches piano there],
while I have the benefit of all the energy and ideas of these young people who
are trying to do something different.”
Other Lebanese artists associated with the label are I-Voice, the Palestinian rap
duo, and Rabiaa Beirut, whose debut album “Laka Anta” (“For You”) was
released in July 2009.
Long-term, the eka3 management is looking to expand the label into more cities
and countries of the Arab world. “The idea is to have units everywhere,” says
Hassan. “We want to grow an Arab audience for this Arabic scene.”
The localized nature of the eka3 project, however, means that the success
achieved thus far won’t be easily replicated.
“If we were to start a hub in Damascus, for example, we would really need the
right person,” says Hassan. “They would need to be totally passionate and
committed. At the moment we really complete each other – I’m very emotional
and artistic, while some of my colleagues are much more business-minded or
logical.
“The label is totally adapted to the geography and the scene of each country.”
However, the growth of the label is integral to the long-term plans of the label.
“If we manage to grow a bigger Arabic music scene, this will mean bigger
audiences,” says Hassan. “Bigger audiences will bring more weight. We want to
be able to compete with all the bullshit out there.”
