Amal Murkus

Amal Murkus ( _ar. أمل مرقس) is an Palestinian singer. Amal’s music is considered pioneering, creating a post-modern music style in which different Mediterranean influences meet. Her first album "Amal" was released in 1998, and her second, "Shauq" in 2004. Her songs, which take inspiration from Palestinian folklore and traditional Arabic heritage, mingled with pop music elements, express her struggle against the marginalization and exclusion that Arab Palestinian culture faces.

Early life

Amal was born and raised in the Arab town of Kafr Yasif in the Galilee, and has devoted her career to promoting Palestinian music and culture in Israel and abroad. Amal has been performing since she was five years old. In 1979 she won first prize in the national Arab children's song festival, and went on to graduate from the Institute for Stage Art in Tel-Aviv in 1990.

Musical career

Amal is a member of the counseling board of Free Muse, an organization against censorship of art and music. She took an active part in its congress in Denmark in 2003. Amal is currently studying art as a tool for social change in Musrara College in Jerusalem.

Amal appears regularly on TV in various educational and cultural programs. Amal has also appeared in feature films and was nominated for the Israeli Oscar for her performance in Ali Nasar's movie “The Milky Way". In 2003 Amal won Best Actress in the Haifa Theatre Festival. Amal’s extensive vocal range and abilities enable her to sing in a wide variety of genres, ranging from traditional Arab roots to modern popular western styles. As a result, she has created some remarkable collaborations with other artists and international musicians, including Joan Baez in an anti-war concert that took place in Tel-aviv 1988; Mercedes Sosa; Oliver Shante, Germany; Stadio, Italy; the Greek singer Glykeria; Noa; Anwar Ebrahem from Tunisia, Enzo Avetable of Italy; Nani Cayemi in Brazil; Robert White in the UK and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (UK) in 2005, and many others.

Amal has also completed projects with the Palestinian poets Mahmoud Darwish in Nazareth in 2000, Kafrr Yasif in 1999, and Samih al-Qasim in 2006. Amal has received many commendations for her unique art and music and for her work with local communities.

In 2001 Amal was chosen by Austrian TV as one of the most beautiful voices of the 20th century, after taking part in a music film produced by the ARTE TV "Premadonas Fest", by the director-musician Andrew Heller, with Jesse Norman and Harris Alexiou, D.D. Bridgewater and others. Her first album, self-entitled “Amal” was written and composed by a diverse group of artists and musicians. It was released internationally in 2000 by EMI Hemisphere.

Her second album "Shauq" (“Longing”) was recorded live in April 2004, at the Crown Hall in Jerusalem, with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Amal is currently working on a new album which includes traditional Palestinian songs with new arrangements, released in July 2007 Na'na' ya Na' na' (peppermint).

Past performances: Amal has appeared in an impressive array of international music festivals, including: Womex (Spain); Festival Of Arab Arts (Liverpool, UK); Bath Festival (UK); Tudos Os Cuntus De Nondos (Brazil); "Almadina" (Tunisia); Ethnos (Italy); Ethnic Music Festival (Sicily); The Whit Night (Naples); The Jubilee Day Live Show (Vatican 2000);The Dho Ziff, Festival Of World Culture (Ireland);"Elias Crean" (Madrid); Casa De Arab Official Evening (Madrid); Tira & Peace (San Marino); "Voices " (Luxemburg); and The Royal Festival (London).Yaffa Cafe and Bookshop 8th December 2007 Jaffa Israel.

Amal has toured in Italy, Germany, France, RUSSIA, Brazil, Spain, Denmark, Bulgaria, Greece and others. Compilations & Guest Appearances: 1998 Seven Times Seven – Oliver Shanty and Friends (Satva Music Germany) 1999 Voices From The World - Various Artists (NMC) 1999 Sweet Sorrw, Glykeria - Amal featured on the Single “The Mothers Prayer" (NMC) 1999 Radio Darwesh, Amal appeared as a guest performing 2 Songs (Polygram Italy) 2000, In Paradiso Conte, Duet With "Stadio" (EMI Italy) 2002 Majles Arab Songs (Virgin) 2002 Ethno (Eros, Greece) 2003 EMI Australia 2005 Label Bleu - France. 2007 Putumayo - World Music USA.

Discography:

2007 Na'na' ya Na' na' (peppermint).Palestinian Folklore Renaissance.
Songs:1) "Marshoosha"2) "A'lrozana"3) "Ah ya asmar"4) "A'taa'na el-Nasrawiyyat"5) "El-Saber"6) "Skaba"7) "Na'na ya Na'na"8) "Tae'i al fay"9) "Hayman"10) "Bhallelak"11) "Yallah eigheth"12) "Tahat el-Khail"13) "Hamam el-dar"14) "A'zzab el Jammal"

[ Amal Murkus Productions 2007http://www.myspace.comamalmurkus]