Al-Maidi: I chose for my art to bear the features of my country

Majed Nasser, known artistically as “Al-Maidi,” is an artist who began his journey in the world of music as a musician who negotiates rhythm, before discovering that his voice carries another gateway to revelation. Al-Maidi did not choose stability, nor did he rely on one style. Rather, he continued to move lightly between experiences, picking up a lesson from every station, and new energy from every challenge. In this dialogue, the Emirati artist reveals his artistic transformations, his position on the Emirati and Arab music scene, his vision of the role of heritage, and the prospects for future projects, which he promises his audience will be “real surprises”:

What ignited your passion for music, and how did that lead you to singing?

My relationship with music began before I decided to become a professional. I was looking for a way to release my energy; I found myself drawn to rhythm, and I started with the drums. This machine was a space for dialogue between me and the audience, without words. After an injury to my wrist; I felt like something broke, but this forced pause made me turn to my voice; So I tried singing out of curiosity first, then I discovered that I could say – through the voice – what the instrument could not say, and from here I felt that my real journey began.

Artistic development

How did your artistic style develop, and what are the most prominent challenges you faced during this transformation?

The first step I had to take was to treat my voice as a “project” that needed training and discipline. So I read a lot about performance techniques, studied the morphology of letters, and worked on a vocal character with a clear identity and mood. The biggest challenge was that the color I was presenting was closer to the Western school, and it was a color that was relatively new in the local scene. Therefore, I felt, sometimes, that I was outside the “familiar zone,” and this made the road longer, but I learned to be responsible for developing myself, and to build my path step by step. This experience gave me patience and the ability to rely on myself, which today are the most important artistic assets I possess.

Is there an experience that had a decisive impact on your musical vision?

Yes, singing with Orchestra 7, led by Maestro Fadel Al-Hamidi, was a milestone. On stage, among this number of musicians, you feel that your voice is part of a large, harmonious entity. Orchestral arrangement, discipline in rehearsals, and precision in every detail; All of them made me see music as an integrated system, not just melody and sound. After this experience, I became more interested in the small details, the dramatic structure of the song, and the relationship between what I present and the audience’s feeling at the same moment.

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Today.. How do you see the music scene in the Emirates?

With all confidence, I say: We are living in a true formation stage for a diverse Emirati music scene. There is official support, platforms, and an audience that has begun to trust the local artist more. The country’s openness to different cultures; Create a fertile environment for experimentation; We began to hear, for example, a mixture of Gulf and international colors, heritage and electronics, without losing our identity. The beautiful thing is that this movement has created a new awareness among an entire generation of artists, who are now asking: “What can we, from here, offer to the world?”

Can the UAE become a regional music hub?

The capabilities that exist today make this ambition very realistic. We have advanced infrastructure, studios, theatres, festivals and digital platforms, as well as young talent, which you just need to invest in. If investment in these talents continues, and more spaces are opened; To display Emirati works inside and outside the country; I believe that the UAE will be a major station for the music industry in the region.

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Musical legacy

The Emirati musical heritage…to what extent is it present in your experiences, and how do you maintain its authenticity?

The legacy – I have it – is not just old tunes; Rather, it is a way of looking at life, a rhythm in speech, and a spirit in performance. Even when I introduce a Western color, I work to preserve this Emirati breath in the melodic phrase, rhythm, and way of singing. Our role, today, is not to change the legacy, but rather to reread it in the language of this time. We can develop the template, and use contemporary tools in distribution and recording, but we must not touch the essence on which we were raised. At that time, we can address the taste of the new generation, without breaking this thread with the past.

The UAE hosts international music events on a regular basis. How does this contribute to the development of the country’s music scene?

Together, these events and initiatives form a single system that pushes the Emirati music scene to greater maturity. When an Emirati artist takes the stage alongside international names, or participates in workshops with musicians from multiple cultures, his awareness of the limits of his abilities changes, he acquires a new language, broader experience, and doors of cooperation that were not possible before him open before him. As for local initiatives, they complement this role, by providing exhibition platforms, training programs, and real workshops that contribute to honing the skills of young artists. Today, young Emirati people find professional tools that were not available to previous generations, in addition to a system that appreciates and supports their talent, which constitutes a great motivation to continue. The integration between global events and local initiatives creates a vibrant artistic movement and gives the Emirati artist an influential position regionally and globally.

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What is the role of the public in your journey, and are there new projects on the horizon?

The audience is an essential partner in any step, and any success I achieve, through hearing my work, attending my concerts, or through the words of support I receive. Therefore, I always try to present what I feel honestly, and to reach his heart before his ear. There are new works that I am currently working on, and I hope that they will constitute a shift in my journey.

On the 54th Union Day.. What does it mean to you to be an Emirati artist who carries his voice from this land?

Being an Emirati artist means that I carry a name, a history, and a responsibility at the same time. I am proud that my voice was shaped by this land… by its sands that taught me patience, by its sea that taught me nostalgia, and by its leadership that gave us the opportunity. Let’s dream, and make that dream come true. When I get on stage; I do not only represent myself, but I represent an entire generation of young Emiratis, who want to raise the name of their country high. Every year, the Emirates are more expensive, their people are happier, and their union is stronger!

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