amalgam of genres and vocal style, Barakat isn’t afraid to go where she thinks the music should
take her.” (PARADE MAGAZINE)
“When trying to describe an artist like Hanna Barakat her voice and talent are such a given that
it frees the listener to embrace the musical journey she takes you on. She is not afraid to step
out of the box from song to song while still following her vision of song oriented rock layered in a
luscious soundscape of melodic instrumentation and vocals. There is a message, emotion, and
uniqueness within each song that transcends trends while still embracing the familiar.” -John
Moyer (Disturbed)
New York, NY: Austin-based, hard/alternative artist, Hanna Barakat, announces her new
album, Siren, showcasing “a vocally powerful performance by the Texas-native driven by
compelling songwriting and thunderous production." (Substream Magazine) Born in Texas to a
Lebanese father and American mother, Barakat combines a variety of influences. "While
proudly paying homage to her roots, Barakat has cultivated her own style that merges
Arab-Oriental influences with her love of rock music for a stunningly unique and original sound."
(Metal Nexus) Pure Grain Audio declares, "Artists come and go like skin cells but, sometimes,
there are those that truly stand out for their immense talents. Barakat is clearly a member of the
latter.”
The album was produced by John Moyer, bassist from famed hard rock band, Disturbed, and
mixed by Martin Nessi (Michael Jackson estate, Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Celine Dion,
Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson), and mastered by Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound
(Disturbed, Evanescence, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Halestorm, Pat Metheny).
Barakat beautifully describes the inspiration behind the album:
“I chose the title, Siren, for my debut record, after John Moyer and I produced our final song
together, which happened to be “Siren.” The power of the music and the lyrics filled me with
such fire. It motivated me and inspired me to take this next step in my journey with such
confidence. Though the song references the mythical sirens of the sea, I loved the idea of a
double meaning: an actual siren, warning call, alarm! The songs on this record were written over
a span of 10 years. These songs have been my comfort and my therapy, as I’ve journeyed this
world, witnessed injustices, engrossed myself in my ancestral culture, grown within myself,
literally travelled the globe, loved, lost, failed, loved again, and struggled to reach the place
where I am today. I want to bring awareness to these situations, not by forcing any political
agenda, but by pushing for love, understanding, and acceptance of all the other humans walking
this earth together. Throughout history, there have been unnatural walls physically erected, or
socially accepted and perpetuated, in order to divide people. I want to tear those walls down. All
of them. Through my music, with rock guitars, heavy drums, deep rhythmic bass lines, and my
intricate vocal melodic lines and punchy harmony stacks, I have chosen to forge Arab
instruments like the oud, kanun, frame drum, riqq, into my sonic landscape, where I feel they so
naturally and appropriately belong.”
MORE ABOUT Hanna Barakat:
Debuting her singing talents as a child from under dining tables at family gatherings, Hanna’s
innate passion lead her on great adventures, opening doors to opportunities such as performing
at the TD Bank North Gardens Stadium with the New Kids on the Block for their comeback tour,
facing a sold out 37,000 person stadium.
While attending Berklee College of Music, Hanna was finally able to dive into Arabic music
through the middle eastern fusion ensemble. From there, she performed with distinguished
artists such as Simone Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Erkan Ogur, and Laço Tayfa’s Hüsnü
Şenlendirici. Hanna personally directed and performed in the group representing the Middle
East in the Berklee International Folk Festival. Hanna also performed and worked alongside
artists such as Paula Cole, Don Was, Philip Bailey, Lailah Hathaway, Burt Bacharach, and
many others. It was at that pivotal time in Hanna’s musical journey that she realized she had to
find a way to join rock music, which she loved so much, with influences from the Arab world,
whether that be through arab instrumentation, the language, or with ornamentation and
infections in her vocal melodies.
Barakat’s unique style merges Arab-oriental influences, as well as hard rock, for powerful and
genuine connections with her audience. Socially and politically charged, her passion-driven
compositions and performances often add eastern ornamentation, as well as other musical
influences to transcend language and borders to touch the heart. “It is amazing to see
musicians from various backgrounds, religions, mindsets, prejudices, and upbringing, that would
normally separate them, join together and produce such brilliant sounds,” says Barakat. “Those
unique situations are the fertilizer for peaceful soil, and this Earth needs much more of that.”
She aims to connect with others, both those displaced from their homelands, being influenced
by multiple cultures around them, while simultaneously reaching mainstream audiences that
appreciate writings of personal encounters, relationships, life issues, and, of course, love.
After graduation, Hanna headlined at the Boston House of Blues main stage before moving to
Beirut, Lebanon, to pursue two of her true loves: music and the Arabic language. Hanna was
well received and performed her original rock fusion music throughout the region, namely at
Beirut’s Hard Rock Cafe. From there, the world has been her stage, traveling, and performing
across the Middle East, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where she currently calls
Austin, Texas, home.
Follow Hanna Barakat Online:
http://www.hannabarakat.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hannabarakat/
http://www.facebook.com/hannabarakatmusic
http://twitter.com/hannabarakat
http://soundcloud.com/hannabarakat
For All Media Inquiries:
Wes J metalcoffeepr@gmail.com 405-6932-3262
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