Lyricist Ahmed Al-Maliki: Rahma Mohsen has a distinctive vocal signature

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Lyricist Ahmed Al-Maliki continues his presence in the music scene through a group of works that combine interest in the word and a keenness to present content capable of reaching the audience, based on a special vision towards the song as an integrated work of art, in which the word is inseparable from the melody and performance.

Al-Maliki's cooperation with the artist Rahma Mohsen in the song "I Am the Loss" is part of the new experiments that he is betting on in the current period, as the song is included in Rahma Mohsen's new album, which in turn represents a different production step in light of the decline in the spread of full albums in favor of single songs. Mohammadi took over the task of writing and composing the song, while Islam El-Banha distributed it, in an experience that brings together a number of names in the music industry.

Al-Maliki believes that releasing a full album in the current circumstances represents a bold decision worthy of appreciation, praising producer Mohamed Hamed and his insistence on engaging in this experience, in addition to his keenness to seek the help of a diverse team of music makers.

Ahmed Al-Maliki has a special appreciation for the popular genre, which he considers one of the basic roots of Egyptian singing art, stressing that the success of this genre is not linked to its mere presentation, but rather to the way it is formulated and the selection of its themes and words, so that it maintains its closeness to the audience without losing its artistic value.

In his interview with Al-Arabiya.net and Al-Hadath.net, Ahmed Al-Maliki reveals the details of his cooperation with Rahma Mohsen, his opinion of her voice, his vision of popular singing, and his method of creating the lyric text, in addition to his ambitions for the next stage.

Firstly, how do you describe your collaboration with artist Rahma Mohsen in the song “I Am the Loss”?

I am very happy with this cooperation, and I consider “I Am the Loss” a special experience, especially since the song comes from Rahma Mohsen’s new album. I hope that it will reach the audience in the way we all hope it will, and that it will gain their admiration and achieve success.

What attracted you to Rahma Mohsen’s experience from its beginnings?

Rahma Mohsen's voice attracted me since she released her first song, "Masquerade Party." She has a special fingerprint and a distinctive tone of voice, and this makes her voice close to people and able to leave an impact on the listener. I believe that this privacy is one of the most important elements that distinguishes any singer, and therefore I was happy to cooperate with her.

How do you see the step of releasing a full album at the present time?

I see it as a very bold step, and therefore I salute producer Mohamed Hamed for his courage in embarking on this experience, especially in light of the difficult production conditions that the artistic scene is currently witnessing. Producing a full album requires a lot of effort and an integrated team, and I believe that the keenness to cooperate with a distinguished group of music makers accounts for this experience.

What do you think of the current status of the popular song on the music scene?

I see that the popular style is the origin of the singing art, and it has a long and important history in Egypt, and we have great models such as Muhammad Rushdi, Ahmed Adawiya, and other pioneers of this style. The audience naturally loves the popular song and interacts with it, but the main issue is how to present it.

What do you mean by presenting the popular color correctly?

I mean that there should be attention to the word, topic, and content, and that we should present popular songs that carry artistic and human value, while staying away from vulgarity. Popularity does not mean that we abandon the quality of the word or turn the song into mere easy phrases, but rather the song can be close to the people, and at the same time classy and respectable.

How does the song writing process begin for you? Where do you find inspiration?

Poetry writing and composing, in my opinion, is a gift from God, because you are trying to create something new from nothing. Inspiration may come from a story, situation, or feeling, and the poet needs to have the ability to conjure feelings and interact with them, even if he does not live the experience itself directly.

Can you actually write about feelings you haven't personally experienced?

Of course, this is the nature of writing. The poet is not required to live every story he writes about, but he needs to understand it, feel it, and be able to imagine himself inside it. I have a clear experience in this matter through the song “The World Returned to Me” by the star Sherine Abdel Wahab. I was writing about a woman’s feelings, and I was able to reach this area through imagination and the accumulation of experiences and human experiences that a person goes through in his life.

What goal do you seek through your work during the coming period?

My primary goal is to continue providing clean, high-quality artwork, and to maintain the artistic level I have reached over the past years. I want to maintain the public’s trust, continue working with the biggest stars of the Arab world, and present songs that add to my career and to the credit of everyone I work with.

In the end, what do you hope for the song “I Am the Loss” and for Rahma Mohsen’s album?

I hope that the song reaches people and that they like it, and I wish the entire album success, because presenting a full album at this time requires effort and courage. I hope that this effort will be appreciated by the audience, and that the experience will be a real plus for all its participants.