- Naser Mestarihi
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Naser Mestarihi Birth name Naser Shaher Saleh Mestarihi Born October 14, 1987
Doha, QatarGenres Hard rock, rock n' roll, blues, acoustic Occupations Musician, songwriter, producer, session musician Instruments Guitar, vocals, bass, drums Years active 2004–present Website http://www.facebook.com/nasermestarihi Notable instruments Gibson Les Paul
Epiphone Les Paul
Gibson Flying VNaser Mestarihi (Arabic: ناصر شاهر صالح المستريحي; born 14 October 1987) is a Qatari born Jordanian-Pakistani guitarist based in Doha, Qatar who has been on the Qatari music scene since the age of 15. Naser is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist (guitars, bass guitars, vocals and drums) singer-songwriter who is the first rock musician to ever officially release a rock album out of Qatar.[1][2][3]
Contents
Early life
Naser was born and raised in Doha, Qatar into a musical family, his paternal uncles are all professional musicians. He states that his introduction to music came through his parents who gave him his first rock records. He also states that the album that inspired him to pursue a career in music was the Guns N' Roses debut album Appetite for Destruction. Although not formally trained, his mother enrolled him in a music school, however due to his lack of interest and constant complaints of the material being taught Naser quit and began teaching himself the guitar.[1]
Music
Naser has been playing live shows professionally with several bands since 2004. He had minor international exposure at the age of 19 when he was featured on a Danmarks Radio documentary in 2006 which was broadcasted all over Denmark and other Scandinavian nations which documented him and Danish television presenters on a tour of Qatar and featured his former band rehearsing and being interviewed.[1][4]
Solo Career (2007-Present)
Naser began his solo career in 2007 and albeit he hasn't performed many shows he has performed a few shows in the United Arab Emirates as a solo artist and a session musician for other bands. His third and fourth shows as a solo musician with his official Doha touring band were held at the United States Military Base Camp As Siliyah in his hometown of Doha, where he performed on the 4th and 5 July with several other Qatar based bands in 2008. He also made his radio debut on QBS Radio during the summer of 2009 when his acoustic rendition of The Who's "Pinball Wizard" was aired on QBS Radio. This was followed by the launch of his upcoming single "Salvation" in September 2009 also on QBS Radio.[1]
He began recording his debut studio album in December 2009, although the album was set to be released between March and June 2010 it was marred by several delays due to production setbacks. The self-titled Naser Mestarihi EP was eventually released on the 31st of December 2010, making it the first official rock record ever to be released out of Qatar. Although the album has not had any commercial success it received critical acclaim from magazines including Rolling Stone Middle East who hailed it as "A huge sounding impressive debut" and Sur la Terre magazine who gave it 4/5 pearls.[1][5]
His debut album (the eponymous Naser Mestarihi EP) is currently available for purchase on iTunes, Myspace Music, Napster, Tesco Entertainment and other online stores via Interscope Digital Distribution through Interscope Records. He composes all his music and lyrics (all instruments including vocals and drums) and is known for his meticulous recording approach recording every instrument's track on his record with the exception of the drums. He is currently recruiting musicians in order to begin club circuit gigs in the United Arab Emirates to support the record and plans to record his first full length album during the summer of this year.[1][6]
Influences
Naser has cited many bands as influences on his music, his favourite band is Guns N' Roses however he has mentioned bands from various genres such as 60's and 70's rock, New Wave, and Punk as his influences. He cites Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhoads, Slash, Brian May and Pete Townshend among his favourite guitarists.[1][6]
Personal life
Naser currently lives in Dubai where he is enrolled at Middlesex University and is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Public Relations and Media. He suffers from Obsessive-compulsive disorder.[3][4]
He is also an avid West Ham United fan and has written a song about the club on his upcoming full-length debut.[1]
Discography
Studio albums
- Naser Mestarihi EP (2010)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Paugh, Steve. "Rock in a Hard Place," Sur la Terre March 2011
- ^ Naser Mestarihi - Interview & "Salvation" on Dubai One
- ^ a b Seguia, Glazia. "Five minutes with Naser Mestarihi." OK! Magazine (Middle East) May 2011
- ^ a b Bagsair, Lubna. "Naser Mestarihi: Rock hard, play harder." Gulf News February 2011
- ^ "Naser Mestarihi EP Review - A local boy makes good... by rocking our faces off!" Sur la Terre March 2011
- ^ a b Kadry, Mohamad. 'I still believe I can make it big.' Khaleej Times March 2011
External links
Categories:- 1987 births
- Living people
- Alumni of Middlesex University
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