{"id":93627,"date":"2022-03-28T09:44:53","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T06:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.163.207.100\/~timesku1\/news\/?p=93627"},"modified":"2022-03-28T09:46:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T06:46:32","slug":"nawaf-gheraibah-breaking-down-stereotypes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timeskuwait.com\/news\/nawaf-gheraibah-breaking-down-stereotypes\/","title":{"rendered":"Nawaf Gheraibah: Breaking down stereotypes"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shabana H. Shaikh<\/strong>
\nSpecial to The Times Kuwait<\/h4>\n
\n
This article was first published in The Times Kuwait on April 14, 2013<\/h5>\n
\n

It\u2019s only appropriate to introduce Nawaf Al Gheraibah with a quote by Leopald Stokowski, a leading orchestral conductor of mid-20th century: \u201cA painter paints his pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. We provide the music, and you provide the silence.\u201d<\/h4>\n

When Nawaf and his orchestra of local musicians performed Bija Live at Bayt Lothan last summer, they surprised the audience by playing compositions that made you feel the harmony of music.<\/p>\n

Affable to a fault musician\/composer\/producer, Nawaf could have made his mark anywhere in the world, but he chose home, Kuwait, knowing first hand what he was up against where artistic freedom was concerned. According to him, \u201cIf you want your music go international, you need to first break ground at your home-base.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winner of \u2018Most popular online vote\u2019 for favourite music artist in Kuwait in a poll conducted by www.kuwait-music.com in June 2012, Nawaf is the man responsible for discovering Kuwaiti boy band Army of One and producing their first album \u2013 an endeavor that sadly left him disillusioned enough to not only leave Kuwait, but also quit music for five years. \u201cI dropped music during this phase, it was my break point,\u201d he reminisces, however, adding that his self-imposed abstinence ended when he met his lovely wife, Dalal, a creative artist and feminist.<\/p>\n

Today, a much calmer Nawaf has the tenacity to work with the system. \u201cI\u2019m not here to make a statement. My life has been about breaking grounds, music is what I love doing and it\u2019s about spreading that joy. That\u2019s art,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

Like many progeny of multicultural unions, this half-Kuwaiti, half-Indian\/Portuguese, grew up in an environment where he felt \u2018confused and alienated\u2019. Yet, embracing his mixed heritage with great humility, he de facto, used it to his advantage. Nawaf post-graduated from the University of Southampton and currently, is an instructor at the Higher Institute of Musical Arts, Kuwait, motivating a new generation of musician.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Besides exploring independent and traditional music, Nawaf also possesses an innate talent for playing various instruments. Nawaf introduced some of the exotic instruments he has self-taught \u2013 such as the Guzheng, a Chinese instrument; the Zen Tambour, which is a round steel-tongue drum originally modeled from a propane tank and played with fingers or mallets; and the Didgeridoo, a long wind instrument that dates back nearly 1,500 years and was developed by Indigenous Australians.<\/p>\n

Without further ado, Nawaf talks to The Times about his music, laments the decline of art-culture and shares a bit about his upcoming concert later this year.<\/p>\n

TTK: When did you realize that music was your calling in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NG: I was a classical piano player back in High school, but being a Kuwaiti, I was expect to study anything other than music. I was supposed to be a doctor or an engineer. I ended up doing computer science, reached my diploma year, and then my heart started pounding for music. I returned to the music field and haven\u2019t looked back since.<\/p>\n

TTK: There\u2019s an interesting childhood story about the piano and you. Do share.<\/strong><\/p>\n

NG: As a kid, I didn\u2019t have a piano at home. I used to sneak into my High school through a window, which was so high, that once inside, I would remain stuck until the next day! So, I would play to my heart\u2019s content and the next morning, pull on my uniform and rush to class, sleeping through my first period.<\/p>\n\r\n