Arab Idol’s Carmen Soliman on Taking Control of Her Career and Why She Won’t Be Making Music For TikTok Any Time Soon…
She was thrust into the limelight a decade ago after winning Arab Idol; now the singer muses on what’s in store for the future…
Arab Idol’s Carmen Soliman on Taking Control of Her Career and Why She Won’t Be Making Music For TikTok Any Time Soon…
Carmen’s recollections are always connected to physical objects. This becomes apparent when she talks about her appearance on the first ever season of Arab Idol. “Those days are close to my heart,” she smiles thinking back, adding with a laugh: “My memories come flooding back when I smell the distinctive scent of the hair products they used on set.”
The 2012 season of the popular reality television show saw the 28-year-old novice impress an intimidating panel of judges, gaining the support and admiration of Ahlam, Ragheb Alama and Hassan El Shafei. The pop star admits that, prior to participating, she never took the genre seriously and made fun of the on-screen contests as they tended to reward “overwhelming emotion expressed as a dramatic performance.”
Only after going through the process herself did she clock the pressure endured by those participating; it was no wonder there were non-stop histrionics. There was so much going on behind-the-scenes. Tears and exhaustion were behind every smile. “I think I was too young for that experience,” Carmen states seriously.
The Winner Takes It All…
But she must have done something right. Despite all the bulwarks she faced, the proud Egyptian took home the crown. Yet Carmen’s story didn’t stop with that chapter, and the the fairy tale happily ever after everyone was anticipating didn’t materialise immediately. “My first album marked one of the toughest phases of my life, as it included songs that I did not like,” she admits when talking about her debut. “And the production company’s delay in releasing it led to some songs being leaked. Despite all that, I felt that it was an important album that deserved to come out in better circumstances.”
If naysayers had any doubts about her success, they were put to rest after her hit Akhbari raced to the top of the charts in 2014 – that was a real turning point. “If I think back on the changes that took place over the last 10 years, I think what really evolved was me,” she reminisces, adding: “In the beginning of my career I lacked experience, but I am more mature now and capable of taking responsibility when it comes to overseeing different stages of production.”
There’s been a real shift in the industry too. Young artists used to have to concentrate on releasing a full album – that was always the focus. And, despite all the time and effort spent on perfecting that album, only a couple of the songs on there ever got traction and became hits. Yet now the spotlight is on single releases, offering a lot more flexibility to those entering the scene.
Fast forward to today and Carmen is a very different artist. “My latest single Ya Jamalk is the beginning in a series that will continue throughout the year to celebrate the first decade of my journey, and I am currently working on producing lots of very different singles,” she tells Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, sounding distinctly more upbeat about her future than when pondering her past.
One aspect of the modern musical world Carmen hasn’t embraced is the emphasis on producing work that will trend on social media apps like TikTok. She has noticed that there are artists who finesse their lyrics and melodies specifically to trend on the platform, but won’t go down that route as it then limits her creativity.
Role Calls
Following the success of her singles, the musician has been tasked with providing theme songs for popular films, pushing her into the ranks of luminaries like Nancy Ajram, Sherine Abdel-Wahab and Elissa who paved that path. And she isn’t reticent about taking credit for the popularity of the series she has been associated with.
Carmen has also added another string to her professional bow, taking two turns as an actor, appearing in season six of Layali Al Hilmya and in the play Yama Fi Al Jirab Ya Hawi, directed by Majdi Al Huwari. She has nothing but praise for her theatrical stint, saying “acting has enriched my career.”
With the help of Eyad Nassar and Mohamad Al Sharnobi, Carmen was able to gain confidence. “This was the opposite of my experience in TV, as the series in which I took part did not receive the same attention and care by the producer,” she tells us.
“If I think back on the changes that took place over the last 10 years, I think what really evolved was me”
Personal Files
The singer is candid when talking about her own life, and the fact that she is constantly juggling roles on not just a professional level, but a personal one too, as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and a friend. In a world of make believe, she wouldn’t pick the Princess part but is inspired by, and identifies with, superheroes.
“My mother always tells me that I am the daughter who brings great relief and security to the family, and us sisters are a great support to each other,” she smiles. “There is a common characteristic for being a mother and a wife, and that is open-mindedness. I am a very relaxed wife; my husband says I never get jealous, and he is right. Although that might upset him at times, I feel the absolute trust and respect we have for each other prevents me from becoming possessive.”
Motherhood is often thought to be the most important role in a woman’s life, but Carmen has a unique take on it, feeling it changed her inherent characteristcs. “I became more emotional and sentimental. I have never been the girl who faints due to fear or pressure, but after giving birth to Zain, I cannot handle any issues that might harm him, and the feeling of responsibility captures my heart more than I could imagine,” she explains. Carmen describes her relationship with her son as a friendship, saying she always enjoys learning about his interests, emphasising how friendly her five-year-old is. The conversations between them are also always based on logic, allowing him to become an independent thinker and a man with a strong personality.
As for her last role as a friend, she is the mastermind behind all the group’s outings and trips. She elaborates, “If we want to go somewhere to relax, the question is always: ‘Where would Carmen take us?’”
Main Image: Photography: Hamed Kamel. Stylist: Yasmine Kenawi. Images Supplied
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s May 2023 issue.