Egypt’s iconic music star, Hisham Kharma has shot himself to the top of music charts in the MENA region with the release of his latest track, “Kholkhal”.
Kharma, who is also a music composer and producer, released the much anticipated track on Thursday on popular streaming platforms, and by Friday, had garnered an impressive number of streams.
“Kholkhal” is a blend of Egyptian traditional style and electronic music elements which takes listeners back to the 80s with a modern touch, Kharma said in a chat with music journalists on Friday.
“Working on the Kholkhal score was a lot of fun. In it, I wanted to showcase an Egyptian vibe alongside modern music with orchestral arrangement. Working on the Kholkhal score was so fun, I was keen to showcase an Egyptian vibe alongside modern music and maqsoum orchestral arrangement. I hope this works and the audience likes it. I’m going to perform it at the Opera House very soon,” Kharma said.
“Kholkhal is born from the marriage between traditional and modern sounds, especially the collocation of saz and the electric guitar. The respective protagonists of melodic sections, both instruments blend with strings, while percussive delicacies adorn the whole dish.
“Kholkhal’s melody carries a lot of innocent brightness, but also a dosage of pensive hope. It is the happy rhythm, a fast-moving tempo, and the high range that give this composition an uplifting vibe and camouflage the feeling of longing,” he said.
Kharma, who was born and raised in Cairo, started playing piano at the age of nine. He had a brief break from music when he got admission to study Computer Science at the American University in Cairo, followed by his postgraduate studies in art direction at Miami Ad School.
He began performing professionally at live music concerts in 2016, acompanied by a grand orchestra at major events in locations such as at the feet of the pyramids, the Cairo Citadel and the London Mansion House.
Kharma was commissioned to create the theme music for the Egyptian Youth Forum in 2018, the same year he opened the 10th edition of the Cairo Jazz Festival (CJF).