I was born in the middle of Lebanon's civil war.

Yasmine Hamdan

Categorized in : I Was Born War Born Civil War

Change means resistance, and resistance means transformation and igniting energies.

transformation resistance change

It's complicated for my music to be accepted, even in Lebanon and the Arabic world - I sing in Arabic, but there's no lute, no classical instruments. Maybe with the Internet opening things up, things will change.

internet music change world

For me, a taxi is like a public space because so many people get in that space.

like me space people

When the public doesn't understand me, it's a battle. So when I choose words, I choose them for their musicality, rhythm, and sense, and I choose the right dialect to express that.

words understand me battle

I've always had a sense that I am doing something very important, something vital.

i-am doing always important

The Arabic music I listen to is extremely edgy. Ironic, sarcastic, sensual, erotic.

listen edgy music sarcastic

I follow my desires, and I'm prepared to take the consequences.

desires follow consequences take

The Arab world is mediatised in a way that gives too much space to these people - puritans, extremists, whatever you want to call them. There are a lot more people like me in the Middle East than you might think.

me you people world

When I read the Koran or hear it read, the images and the poetry, the sound of the language is very inspiring.

hear language poetry sound

There are many positive values that come with a Muslim upbringing. But when religion becomes about rules and hierarchies, when it starts to feel like a prison, I'm not interested.

feel prison positive religion

Collaborating with other artists is an emotional thing. Obviously, you don't do it unless this person inspires you.

unless person you emotional

Without freedom and without humor, our cultures can't have a healthy evolution.

without freedom evolution humor

Singing is a very sensual activity! You engage in it with all your senses and your heart.

your you singing heart

I don't believe that there is a separation between art and political consciousness.

separation political believe art

I went from the most underground band in the world to signing with Madonna's producer and a record label that is extremely mainstream - it was interesting.

producer band world interesting

I wanted to pursue my own thing - I had desires, ideas I wanted to accomplish, and I needed to be on my own for that.

own accomplish my-own ideas

I set the bar very high. I'm very tough on myself.

bar high myself tough

My dad was a brilliant civil engineer. My parents later divorced, but we lived in Abu Dhabi, Greece, Kuwait.

engineer parents brilliant dad

I was raised by strong women, and the role models I had in music and cinema were strong, too - liberated and provocative.

women cinema music strong

I'm inspired by many artists whose language I don't understand.

many understand inspired language