I sing in Arabic as a statement. It's art, and it's a challenge. — Yasmine Hamdan Arabic Copy Share Image
When I go to Beirut, I don't drive. It's traumatizing to drive there. — Yasmine Hamdan Beirut Copy Share Image
Because of the Lebanese civil war, I had a scattered childhood. I had to build my own connections to each country we… — Yasmine Hamdan Childhood Copy Share Image
I've always had a sense that I am doing something very important, something vital. — Yasmine Hamdan Always Copy Share Image
Collaborating with other artists is an emotional thing. Obviously, you don't do it unless this person inspires you. — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
For me, a taxi is like a public space because so many people get in that space. — Yasmine Hamdan Like Copy Share Image
The Arabic music I listen to is extremely edgy. Ironic, sarcastic, sensual, erotic. — Yasmine Hamdan Arabic Copy Share Image
I don't believe that there is a separation between art and political consciousness. — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
I have learned to create from a hybridized point of view. It's an asset - something rather liberating. — Yasmine Hamdan Create Copy Share Image
If you have a drummer who alternates between fast and slow drumming, it can negatively affect the music. — Yasmine Hamdan Drummer Copy Share Image
I met Jim Jarmusch when I started recording my album 'Ya Nass.' He was writing the script for 'Only Lovers Left Alive.'… — Yasmine Hamdan Alive Copy Share Image
Back in Kuwait, I had started listening to a lot of English language music: western music, I would say - Kate Bush… — Yasmine Hamdan Back Copy Share Image
When the public doesn't understand me, it's a battle. So when I choose words, I choose them for their musicality, rhythm, and… — Yasmine Hamdan Battle Copy Share Image
Imagine a singer with the virtuosity of Joan Sutherland or Ella Fitzgerald, the public persona of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the audience of… — Yasmine Hamdan Audience Copy Share Image
There is something spiritual about art that connects us with ourselves and with others; it's really about coming together and creating bridges. — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
When I started doing music, it was out of despair and boredom. I got passionate about it, and I felt that it… — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
It's complicated for my music to be accepted, even in Lebanon and the Arabic world - I sing in Arabic, but there's… — Yasmine Hamdan Arabic Copy Share Image
The Arabic world was very interesting in the 1920s to '60s: there was something booming culturally, and I found my culture very… — Yasmine Hamdan 1920s Copy Share Image
With Soapkills, we were lucky. We started at a time of transition where things were not ready, nothing was available. — Yasmine Hamdan Lucky Copy Share Image
Faith is a very intimate process that involves being sincere and truthful to a spiritual presence. — Yasmine Hamdan Faith Copy Share Image
When it comes to the lyrics, I write about my own perception of things and use characters for that. — Yasmine Hamdan Lyrics Copy Share Image
Every time I go to Beirut, I see people and the quality of life going slowly from bad to worse, and from… — Yasmine Hamdan Bad Copy Share Image
I am interested in exploring encounters where worlds meet and not where they separate. — Yasmine Hamdan Encounters Copy Share Image
Without freedom and without humor, our cultures can't have a healthy evolution. — Yasmine Hamdan Biology Copy Share Image
World music can be sometimes like the lumber room in which all the non-English singers are dumped. When you are singing in… — Yasmine Hamdan Arabic Copy Share Image
I always had this crisis: where do I come from? I was never an insider, never an outsider; I was always in… — Yasmine Hamdan Always Copy Share Image
I had an Arabic background. but I lived a very scattered childhood. I didn't belong to any one culture, which meant I… — Yasmine Hamdan Belong Copy Share Image
'Al Jamilat' is not just feminist. It's an album with songs that feature women: women who are in love, rebellious women, political… — Yasmine Hamdan Female Copy Share Image
When I imagine feminine characters in my songs, they're often bold, strong, passionate, militant, witty, sensual, dangerous. I see those characters as… — Yasmine Hamdan Bold Copy Share Image
I'm Muslim but not really. My family did not care. And I always managed to skip religion classes when I was living… — Yasmine Hamdan Always Copy Share Image
I don't think there is only one Arab culture or a pure Arabness. We are very multiple, especially our generation, which is… — Yasmine Hamdan Arab Copy Share Image
As an artist, you need to be true to yourself and free and not put yourself in a box that contradicts with… — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
Egyptians are quite incredible people. They have everything: the culture, the music, the scenes. So much of Arab music and art started… — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
I had the urge to face my own limitation, and I needed to be bigger. I needed to be more professional and… — Yasmine Hamdan Art Copy Share Image
