Palestinian singer, songwriter and filmmaker Zaher Saleh shares his captivating new single ‘La7ali (Alone)’, out now on all streaming platforms. The track is accompanied by a breathtaking music video, filmed on a lake in Kiev, Ukraine in the depths of winter. Watch it here.
With his previous single ‘Kezbeh (Lie)’ telling the personal story of a young gay Muslim man sturggling to reconcile his personal liberties, sexuality, and love life, with his faith, family, and personal beliefs, ‘La7ali (Alone)’ moves on to explore the difficulties of navitating a relationship when each person is at a different stage in their life.
Opening with a simple piano melody, Zaher’s distinctive sound has a bewitching quality to it, paired perfectly with his incredibly dreamy vocals; the track captivates the listener from the very first note. Singing in both Arabic and English, Zaher music aims to unite across cultural
and religious barriers by touching on what it means to be human.
Speaking of the track, Zaher says, “A few years ago, I started dating this remarkable man. At the time, he wasn’t out to his parents, and neither was I. But as our love evolved, I felt ready to share my truth with my parents but he wasn’t in the same place. A little after a year, our relationship ended and he opened up about his sexuality to his parents, and I was beyond proud and happy for him. We both felt safe because we tried to be patient, compassionate, and loving to one another.
Sometimes, we might be moving at a different pace, bringing so much fear and uncertainty. But I believe that all we can do is be true to ourselves and have no expectations of others. Understanding the unique journey of our loved ones and having a compassionate approach will most probably lead to beautiful realizations and deeper connections. We are only responsible for our own conscious choices.”
Growing up in Lebanon until the age of 15, music was always a safe space for Zaher. When he was a child, he would lock himself in his room to sing and record demos in secret, constantly fearing that his love of music would make his sexuality obvious. Overwhelmed with the inner turmoil that comes with suppressing his truth from his loved ones, he made the decision to come out to his family in order to face his demons and live a more authentic life. “I first came out to my cousin and later to my brothers, their support was heart-warming. After my first relationship, I felt the need to face my biggest fears so I decided to come out to my parents. That day was nerve-wrecking and very dramatic, to say the least, they love and support me but can’t fathom my sexuality and what it stands for.”
Now residing in New York City for the last 12 years, Zaher is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and is not afraid to make bold and controversial statements with his music. His short film ‘War Within’ is a story of a gay Muslim man’s struggle to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, and pushes boundaries by mixing Quranic verses with queer sex scenes. The film was well-received and serves as an opportunity to educate and inspire.
With his music, Zaher creates soundscapes fusing cinematography, art, music, cultures and genres – bringing people together to celebrate music and love by creating a safe-space for us to be whoever we want to be.
ZAHER SALEH ONLINE:
INSTAGRAM // YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY