http://www.fenmag.com Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:21:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_4685" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Photo courtesy Bering Photography"][/caption] Randa Jarrar is the author of the critically acclaimed novel A Map of Home, which won a Hopwood Award, an Arab-American Book Award, and was named one of the best novels of 2008 by the Barnes and Noble Review. Her work has appeared ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/14/6qs-with-author-randa-jarrar/ This song's niceness is clear. The beat gets your head nodding, the hook is catchy and insightful, and even if you can only understand half the verses, you know it's deep. The video is directed by Laith Majali (Amman) and shot on location in L.A. and Beirut, and the record ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/09/video-omar-offendum-destiny/ Omar Offendum is welcoming us to SyrianamericanA, a place where lyrics lure you into “cardamom strong,” and a nostalgic journey for home and history will light your senses on fire. Perk up your ears, and just try to catch up with the speed of Omar’s seemingly effortless riffs as the ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/09/6qs-with-mc-omar-offendum/ Old and New Lebanese Music on NPR Music... It is no surprise that Fairuz, with her rich, enchanting voice ended up as part of NPR's 50 Great Voices Series, but it is refreshing to listen to what's happening in the current Lebanese music scene in "Beirut's Jam Is Mashrou' Leila's 'Embembelela7.'" ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/06/fensider-the-lebanese-dominate-npr-music/ Narrative Filmmaker Ziad Hamzeh moved from Syria to the United States in 1979, when he was 20-years-old. Since then, he has won a raft of accolades at international film festivals—over 40 awards so far, including the Kennedy Center Achievement Award. He has written, directed and produced films such as The ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/06/6qs-with-filmmaker-ziad-hamzeh/ Carved Success... An amazing article about an even more amazing man and artist -- woodworker Sam Maloof was featured in NPR's All Things Considered shortly before his death. We will keep this short because you must go read and listen to every word here >> // 07.20.2010 http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/05/fensider-sam-maloof-all-things-considered/ Over 50,000 people came together last weekend to celebrate Arab culture of the Arab at the 4th Annual Chicago Arabesque Festival at Daley Plaza, in the heart of the Windy City. Despite the overwhelming heat, the festival attracted not only members of one of the largest Arab communities in the ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/02/chicago-arabesque-festival-highlights/ Freelance illustrator and comic artist Marguerite Dabaie has managed to find a way of presenting her own perspective of what it's like to be Palestinian-American through her visually stimulating and knee-slapping series The Hookah Girl and Other True Stories. She's even illustrated her grandmother's cookbook! FEN sat down with the ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/07/01/6qs-with-comic-illustrator-marguerite-dabaie/ World-renowned architect Zaha Hadid was recently named UNESCO Artist for Peace in recognition of her efforts to raise public awareness of intercultural dialogue and promote excellence in design and creativity. Upon receiving the award Hadid said, “The arts have always bridged cultural, economic and social divides; teaching us that disparate ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/29/fensider-zaha-hadid-named-unesco-artist-for-peace/ Dena El Saffar, of Salaam (the Arabic word for "peace") was exposed to Arabic music in the suburbs of Chicago, where she grew up attending Iraqi gatherings with her family. She began learning the violin at age six. At age 17, she accompanied her father to Baghdad and became enchanted ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/29/6qs-with-dena-el-saffar-of-salaam/ Gaida, rightfully dubbed the "Syrian Nightingale" has an unforgettable voice and mesmerizing stage presence. If you haven't seen her live, make it a point to.  Here, she tells FEN about her debut album Levantine Indulgence and how she strikes that magical balance between East and West in her music. STATS Arabic Singer/Song: ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/22/6qs-with-singer-gaida/ For the Literary Heads... If you're looking for a little summer reading, award-winning Lebanese-Canadian Author and Visual Artist Rawi Hage has recently published a fast-paced and eccentric piece titled "Stray Dogs" in the latest issue of Tin House. He is also the author of De Niro's Game and Cockroach. // 07.06.2010 http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/21/4568/ From the man behind your favorite spoofs comes "Hey Baba," a parody on Usher's "Hey Daddy." Farid Alhadi delivers again with this special Father's Day joint -- download it for FREE and let us know what you think below... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/20/free-download-farid-alhadis-hey-baba-usher-hey-daddy-spoof/ This month's FEN FIVE has got us singin' summa summa summa time. Kickin' things off is Shakira's "Waka Waka" to keep that World Cup fever going! Followed by Khaled M, Kentucky-raised, Tuscon-based rapper with "Beautiful Feeling." (We couldn't have summed summer up with a better title.) Next up: just in ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/18/fen-five-june-2010/ Libya isn’t exactly famous for hip-hop. And it’s not often that Libyans become rappers, but Khaled Muammer isn’t one to stick with the mold. Born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Kentucky, he got his start in high school, battling it out with peers in the lunchroom. “I was such ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/17/khaled-m-less-politics-more-lyrics/ "Unveiling the Veil" in Photos The camera has turned on Photographer Laura El-Tantawy as she finds herself in the spotlight of Visura Magazine. Her latest gallery, "Unveiling the Veil" is a work in progress. The photos will transport you to a place "dominated by mystery and dreams," as El-Tantawy puts it... ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/16/fensider-unveiling-the-veil/ When you think of the qanun, you probably think of classical Arabic music. And when you think of classical Arabic music, you probably think old. But at 18-years-young, qanunist Ali Amr will change the idea you have of the qanun. Raised in Palestine, Ali now studies at Berklee College of ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/16/6qs-with-qanunist-ali-amr/ Noor Theatre Launches Congratulations to the founders of Noor Theatre, Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale, on the recent launch of their organization. Noor Theatre is dedicated to supporting, developing and presenting the work of theatre artists of Middle Eastern descent and aims ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/15/fensider-noor-theatre-launch/ Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in most ways is an unideal place to launch a hip-hop radio station. Putting on concerts is practically impossible and the logistical process is not without challenge, but Hass Dennaoui is more than up for it. A music lover with a mission, Hass launched Re-Volt Radio in ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/10/6qs-with-radio-host-hass-dennaoui/ From the House de Narcel comes the first leak off The Narcicyst's upcoming mixtape, code named "Strep Throat" - which will be an amalgamation of Narcy's inspirations in and outside of hip-hop. This is his lyrically-laced rendition of Radiohead's "Paranoid Android". The Narcicyst - "Paranoid Arab Boy" [audio:narcy_paranoidarabboy.mp3|titles=Paranoid Arab Boy|artists=The Narcicyst] Download it ... http://www.fenmag.com/2010/06/08/free-download-the-narcicyst-paranoid-arab-boy/