Image courtesy of Lazzy Lung
Though the Middle East had only seen a handful of successful English-speaking rock and alternative acts through the 1990s and 2000s, that all changed when Beirut rock outfit Lazzy Lung emerged onto the scene in 2010. Last year, their second full-length album, Sailor's Delight, was chosen as one of Rolling Stone Middle East's "Top Three Unsigned Albums of 2013." Setting forth the journey into the US music scene, Lazzy Lung began using Sonicbids to find international touring opportunities. Guitarist and vocalist Allan Chaaraoui spoke with us about the diversity of the Middle Eastern music scene, what he loves about Sonicbids, and what obstacles the band has faced and overcome.
What's the music scene like in the Middle East? In what ways is it different from or similar to the US?
The scene here is massive and quickly evolving, to say the least! Certainly Arab pop music and Arab folklore (Dabke) are the predominant genres in the Levant. It's pretty safe to say that all other genres and scenes pale in comparison, kind of like how country music dominates in the United States. EDM has a huge place in the Middle East, with some of the highest profile DJs coming out and throwing it down at some of the most extravagant clubs, as well as serious underground dance music venues (like Garten). Lebanon certainly leads the race in terms of thriving indie scenes, followed by Dubai, Egypt, and Jordan. The music scene is diverse, and you find pretty much anything you want if you know where to look. Rock and heavy metal, to jazz and Arabic hip-hop all have their place across the Middle East.
The biggest difference between the US and Middle East that comes to mind is suitable venues, festivals, and political stability. There are only so many staple venues with a decent stage and sound system for bands to set up and do their thing. The political stability thing is a bitch, but that just gives us a greater sense of importance in what we do in these troubling times.
Sailor's Delight was named one of the "Top Three Unsigned Albums in 2013" by Rolling Stone Middle East. How did that come about, and how did it feel to have your album featured in such a prominent music magazine?
The making of Sailor’s Delight was a hell of a journey. The Arab Spring was taking its form and we were in the midst of touring and filming a documentary (Kids Like You & Me) with the Black Lips during the revolution. The album is a dark romance with the unknown, told with tales of decadence in the streets, bars, and bedrooms of Beirut. Rolling Stone has been very supportive of our efforts in the region from the very beginning. We are super grateful, and it pushes us to keep going further with music.
In terms of your music career, what are the biggest obstacles you've faced so far?
Being an independent rock band is tough as it is. Living in a region surrounded by political instability doesn’t help either. It's not easy, but there’s no room for bellyaching. Lazzy Lung has been active for over nine years and has self-released two albums and an EP, with new singles on the way. The band worked relentlessly towards becoming Lebanon's new rock alternative, self-funding, self-releasing, and publishing our content, organizing our own shows, and putting ourselves on the map in the Middle East. We made ourselves. Being that dedicated to something that doesn’t pay off that much isn't for everyone. Members have come and gone over the years, but opportunities keep coming our way.
We've had bittersweet experiences like winning a music competition (Triplew) for an all-expenses-paid trip to record at Capitol Records, only to face band visa complications. Luckily, with the help of Capitol, Triplew, and Ray-Ban, we were able to hire a session musician (Martyn Le Noble of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros), which was super cool. It was a crushing nightmare having to dish out the bad news, but we always roll with the punches.
More things are changing now in the region year by year. We’ve developed great relationships with brands like Red Bull, Converse, Ray-Ban, Rolling Stone ME, Triplew, and Jim Beam, who are playing a huge role in supporting the music scene and Lazzy Lung's future endeavors. Now it’s all a matter of putting things together and touring. We’re working on our own time and having as much fun as we can along the way.
How did you decide to become a Sonicbids band? What do you find most valuable about the platform?
Sonicbids is our springboard to North America. It was an investment that we were willing to make in an attempt to put our band on the map. It keeps us in the know on some pretty cool opportunities and exclusives like SXSW and NXNE. After completing our first album and gaining some decent media exposure, we felt that we were ready to make some moves. Most bands, ourselves included, are self-managed or can’t afford the costs of a booking agent or band manager. This platform puts more access and control in the hands of today's DIY artist.
When can we expect to hear new tunes from you?
We're currently in the studio and working on the pre-production for our next EP due to be released in 2015.
