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Al Fardan is one of the biggest business houses in the region and one would expect a progeny of the family to join the family business. But Dana al Fardan chose a different path, one of music and melody.
After getting a degree in International Relations and Gemology (a study of gemstones), she briefly joined the family jewellery business. But life took a surprising twist when she got pregnant with her daughter and wrote her first piece of music called Layla, an ode to her daughter. She went on to launch her debut album 'Paint' three years back, making her the first Qatari English singer. She has since become the CEO of DNA Records, a homegrown label that she launched to build the musical infrastructure in Qatar, and also to nurture the local talent.
More recently, she partnered with Hamad International Airport (HIA) and had her song The Beginning selected as the theme song for the entire airport.
She has just released her second album 'Sandstorm', where she has composed all the 11 songs. The album is a cross-over of sorts with a number of different genres including jazz, swing and Latino.
Qatar Tribune's Dipti Nair spoke to the singer and songwriter about family, DNA records and life in the musical lane.
Q: It's been three years since your debut album. How has the musical journey been?
A: The last three years have been non-stop for me, especially over the last 18 months. I have enjoyed a number of successes including having a song that I composed called This Is Your Life featured on international superstar DJ Robin Schulz's album 'Sugar'. I am also honoured to have partnered with HIA for their theme song. I have also been very busy with DNA Records, where we have launched different artists over the past 12 months. 2017 is looking super exciting as well.
How does it feel to be the artist to produce Qatar's first English language album?
Obviously that was a huge accomplishment for me and a high point of my career, and I am honoured to have achieved that. In saying that, I'm also always looking for ways to continue evolving as an artist, growing as a musician, and ultimately achieving all my dreams and everything that I have set out to do.
What does music mean to you?
Music is my passion, I am literally living and breathing music pretty much all the time. It is something that inspires me, in a way I hope, I can inspire others. Music allows me to create something that I am proud of; it gives me a unique voice. They say that music is a truly international language and it is cross-cultural and I firmly believe this, and I have always strived to apply this philosophy in my work.
You come from a family of businesspeople. How did you acquire a love for music?
My family is my biggest supporter and that includes my husband, my sisters, and parents, and they have been supporting me from day one when I decided to switch careers and focus on music. To be honest, I have always had a love for music, as from a very young age I was interested in different musical genres such as rock, pop and classical music, and I was always putting together shows with my siblings.
How did you decide to make music a career?
While I was pregnant with my daughter Layla, I was listening to music and had a realisation that I wanted to make music too. And I ended up writing a musical piece that was set in the American Civil War. That was a turning point for me and it was at that moment that I decided to make music my career.
How did your family react to your career choice?
Thank goodness, my family has always supported me and my career choices. They have always instilled that belief in me, from a very young age. We have always been taught that we can do whatever we put our minds to. I have been fortunate to have their unwavering support and dedication, and that means the world to me.
Can you share your music making process?
Music for me is a constant rather than a process. It is something that I am doing all-day-long from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep and sometimes also when I am sleeping. I have found that it is never the same experience but it always entails listening to music, immersing myself in my surrounding, drawing inspiration from life, and then channelling this into music.
What role do you enjoy the most, being a singer, a songwriter, composer or a businesswoman?
Songwriter, composer and businesswoman gosh, each one of these roles is so different, but they each make up a part of me and have helped to shape me into the person that I am today. As an artist I am able to do something that I love music on a daily basis and this truly fulfils my soul. Meanwhile, as a businesswoman, I am trying to support local, regional and international artists, and provide them with the right tools and industry knowledge to turn their dreams into reality. That is something that I'm incredibly proud of.
With so many commitments, do you get enough time to spend with your family?
I think that life is all about balance and it is really important for me to have that balance between my personal and professional lives especially as both bring such joy to me. I am mother to an absolutely beautiful three-year-old. I love to sing with my daughter and to her, and thankfully she loves my songs and my music. I am also very fortunate as a wife. My husband is incredibly supportive of me, my career and all of my musical aspirations. He is always cheering me on and encouraging me, which is an amazing thing.
Tell us about DNA Records.
DNA Records currently operates over an international space, working with recording studios both in London as well as a private recording studio in Qatar, as the label's artists continue to benefit from a cultural exchange. At the moment, we have a number of artists signed to DNA Records, and this includes the very first artist we signed, Irish singer and songwriter, Ryan O'Reilly, with the band members Tyler Kyte and David Granshaw. Their debut album 'The Northern Line' was released in May and debuted in the Top 20 on iTunes Germany which was a huge and well deserved accomplishment. I am really proud to be working with such fantastic artists who also happen to span across different musical genres.
Any tips for upcoming musicians?
Musicians have to first love music and love what they do. Living in an increasingly technological world, record labels and agents are open to discovering talent in a number of different places and in unique ways. So you definitely have to be out there and utilising all of the different social media platforms such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook. Another crucial thing up-and-coming musicians should do is network, make connections, and work on demo tapes, singles and EP's. Hard work, dedication and perseverance always pay off in the long run.
What are you currently working on?
I am excited to announce that my latest album 'Sandstorm' was officially released a while back and is available for download on iTunes. Some of the key songs on the album include The Beginning, Pride of a Nation, a musical tribute to Qatar; as well as Music Box, inspired by the nostalgic quality of music boxes. These along with Spirit Of Thunder, a song capturing the emotional storm before the calm, and of course, Layla, a musical ode to my daughter. There are a number of new and exciting projects and performances lined up for the next 12 months, so you will definitely have to watch this space!
