Palestinian-Jordanian singer Issam Alnajjar, 19, revealed to Arabian Business that he has been working with Egyptian music icon Mohammed Ramadan and French superstar GIMS on a new single which will be released on Friday.
The trio’s new song is a recreation of Kevin Lyttle’s timeless 2003 hit ‘TMO,’ a new milestone in the 19-year-old’s music career.
“When my manager Sal had a vision of recreating Kevin Lyttle’s “Turn Me On” in Arabic, I was so excited to get in the studio,” he told Arabian Business.
“After recording the song, we realised it had so much potential and that’s when we sent it to Mohammed Ramadan. He has a unique ability to add excitement to a song, and he fell in love with it and recorded it that same week.”
Sending the song to GIMS “took TMO [‘Turn Me On’] to the next level.”
“It was amazing hearing the art he created! His voice is so special and unique. I’ve always wanted to collaborate with both Ramadan and GIMS. So collaborating with both of them is an honour.
“My team made sure that we had a hit! Working with these 2 artists really taught me a lot about the importance of staying true to yourself and working hard. Both of them believe in my sound and music, which makes me extremely happy!
“There are so many elements that make ‘TMO’ a song that everyone can enjoy, even if you don’t understand the languages we are singing in!”
The new single, which will be aired on YouTube on Friday at 6:00 PM (GMT +4), is “timeless,” said Alnajjar adding that it “feels like summer!”
“’Turn Me On’ by Kevin Lyttle is 20 years old, and people still smile every time they hear it. We recreated that and made it our own. I have no doubt that 20 more years from now, people will still enjoy it.”
“Right now, the world needs some excitement. I hope TMO can be the song people make amazing memories to.”
The young singer’s monumentally rapid rise to fame began in 2020 after he released a single on Spotify titled ‘One of a Kind,’ a song he wrote by himself. Later that year in September, he released ‘Hadal Ahbek,’ perhaps one of the songs he is most known for after it went viral on TikTok.
Alnajjar appeared on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York in early 2021 and achieved a top spot on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 with more than 30 million streams at the time.
“This was a very surreal moment in my life. Every artist dreams of being on a billboard in Times Square! I was so honoured and grateful. At the time, I still didn’t have my visa to the US so my family flew out to New York to see it on my behalf.
“My parents were so proud of me, and my mom cried as soon as she got a glimpse of it! That’s a moment I will never forget in my life. I hope to be able to experience that again in the near future.”
One of his earliest collaborations ‘Hada Ghareeb’ was with Elyanna, the Palestinian-Chilean singer who made history at Coachella earlier this month.
Alnajjar said that his fans can expect a collaboration with an “amazing artist very soon.”
“I’m so excited for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on. This project showcases a completely different side of Issam.”
Since releasing his first album ‘Baree?’ – which translates to ‘Innocent’ in English – in 2021, his creative process has changed, he said.
“It is now largely based on what I am feeling or going through at the time. Each song I’ve released or plan to release is personal to me. It comes from my heart and my experiences. Lately I have been working with many versatile producers and writers who bring unique styles to the table.”
“For me, music is an outlet to express my emotions and to let all the listeners know: They’re not alone. As individuals, we often feel misunderstood. Music helped me overcome that feeling because I would put my headphones on and dive into my own little world where I can understand that there are other people who go through the same things I do! There are people who share my feelings. Music gives people hope and a good song can change someone’s life. I know this because music changed my life. If my art can put a smile on someone’s face, then I feel fulfilled.”
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