New young talent is springing all across the Middle East due to the increase in exposure to an international world. Popular arabic music among teens, tweens, and yuppies these days tend to blend latin and western elements. Artists continue to innovate in this field as they attempt to cater to strong traditional influences while introducing fans to an array of musical genres.
Aziz Maraka is one of those innovators, with his 2006 launch of a new genre called 'RAZZ'. The Arkansas Traveler (Aziz, a Jordanian, is an Alumni of the University of Arkansas) notes:
“Maraka's invention took time and hard work. During the six years of development, Maraka practiced jazz, played with rock bands, and performed with purely Arabian instruments. His band consists of a string quartet, bass and electric guitar, percussions, trumpet and Oud, the Arabic equivalent of the lute. Maraka performs vocals and plays piano. “It took me seven months to put all these musicians together,†Maraka said, including a non-UA student who “is an amazing musician, and could understand my ideas and the Arabic beats.â€
You can listen to a sample track of RAZZ at http://issmatblog.wordpress.com, or visit the Maraka's homepage directly at www.azizmaraka.com.
RAZZ
Rock Arabian jaZZ & the Proliferation of Music Genres
Trend Themes
1. Blend Music Genres - There is an opportunity for music artists to incorporate different elements from various genres to create innovative blends.
2. Introduce New Music Genres - There is a potential for artists to create and popularize new music genres that cater to different cultural influences.
3. Unite Traditional & Modern Music - There is a demand for innovation in music that combines both traditional and modern elements to create fresh and unique sounds.
Industry Implications
1. Music Industry - The music industry can explore new areas and tap into new audiences by experimenting with innovative music styles and genres.
2. Cultural Industry - The cultural industry can benefit from supporting and promoting innovative music styles that represent diverse cultural backgrounds.
3. Education Industry - The education sector can seize opportunities to provide training programs and resources that support the development of innovative music genres and styles.