Qatari composer and distinguished singer-songwriter Dana Al Fardan announces the release of ‘Onyx,’ the last single of her long-expected album, ‘Indigo.’ Ethereal as it is subtle, ‘Onyx’ transcends physical barriers to speak directly to the soul with a powerful beat that holds in its folds sweet-sounding melodies and lyrics that inspire the unleashing of one’s intuitive willpower.
Drawing inspiration from the black onyx stone for its strength and resolution, the song is the perfect closure to the musical saga that is ‘Indigo.’ ‘Onyx’ is an ode to the pursuit of happiness from within, encouraging listeners to accept that contentment is a personal responsibility regardless of outside factors. As the melodies play, the spellbinding tunes seize control from the brain and hand it to the heart, embarking the soul on a spiritual journey whereby at its end, listeners will let go of what holds them back and grow. Dana employed musical instruments and vocal techniques that would ignite the third eye chakra, or the Ajna, which is linked to perception, awareness, and spiritual communication. The heavenly vibrations of her voice build the spiritual bridge one needs to reach fulfillment. She sings: “the wound is the place the light enters,” reminding us that we are the only ones responsible for finding the light within to heal and become happy.
Inspired by the Theory of Colours by German poet, artist, and politician Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, ‘Indigo’ is an album that explores sound, color, and the multi-sensory experiences that lie beyond. Commenting on the album as a whole Dana said: “Each piece was composed in a color scheme to capture a mood and a state of being.” All tracks will have corresponding conceptual, abstract videos, allowing each listener to create their own, personal meaning.
Following the release of Onyx, the latest single off her upcoming album Indigo, Dana performed an exclusive show at London’s distinctive The Ned, an architectural masterpiece in the heart of the city known for its private members-only spaces. Becoming the very first Qatari musician to perform at The Ned, Dana performed six songs off her upcoming album Indigo alongside a chamber orchestra, the album’s producer Nico Dalla Vecchia, and music director Youki Yamamoto.
Priding herself on being Qatar’s first female composer, the world-renowned symphonic artist is a proud Qatari who stays true to her roots. The music she creates brings together contemporary, western, and neo-classical influences that blend with the musical heritage of the Middle East. “I tend to stay away from the word ‘fusion’ as it sometimes implies a ‘watering-down’ of one style or another. So, the idea is to preserve the authenticity of one style of sound and build it into another in a way that fits without one having to accommodate the other by deconstructing itself.” Dana stated.
When it comes to accomplishments, Dana Al Fardan is not one to hold back; she is a Cultural Ambassador to the Qatari Philharmonic Orchestra, and, since 2018, Qatar Airways has adopted her songs as its signature onboarding music. Outside of her home country, her impact is far-reaching; the celebrated artist created the score for the prize-winning film Orca, wrote music for the UN Day Concert, performed with the London Metropolitan Orchestra at the Theater Royal Haymarket, and composed the music for the humanitarian “Bring Hope for Gaza” campaign.
Collaborating with Lebanese-British West End actor, singer, and writer Nadim Naama, Dana is now exploring what theater has to offer. The duo writes and produces musicals that aim to “bring universal, liberal and transcendental figures and thoughts from the Middle East to a global Western audience and West End stage.” In 2018, ‘Broken Wings,’ a musical that follows the life of Lebanese-American writer Khalil Gibran, premiered with sell-out shows at the Haymarket Theater in London, the Beiteddine Festival in Lebanon, Katara Opera House in Qatar, and The Dubai Opera; this was followed by a six-week run at London’s Charing Cross Theater in 2022.
Her second show, the highly-praised ‘Rumi The Musical’ debuted in 2021 depicting the life of the historical poet Jalal Al-Din Rumi. The London Theater Reviews described Dana’s score as “Intense, dramatic and beautiful… Elegant, powerful, and evocative music: it is not hard to see it becoming a hit in the West End.”
Despite the differences between the two musicals, their end goal is one, and that is to introduce Arab figures to new audiences, building on Dana’s vision to showcase her culture to the world through her art.
Dana continues to explore an uncharted soundscape that only she has a compass to, bringing her audience a step closer to healing and ultimately self-discovery.‘Onyx’ is out on Dana Al Fardan’s YouTube channel, her website, and all other major streaming platforms on August 9th.
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