Photos: David Abdallah

Make up: Fadi Kattia

Styling: Tony Ibrahim

 
Carole Samaha is a Controversial character whose voice touches everyone’s heart. She astonishes her viewers with the release of every new clip; every clip has its own outstanding idea. Carole is a multi talented singer; she dances, acts and is originally a director. Nowadays Carole is starring in a very big musical play called “Zanoubia” with the Al Rahbaniya in Lebanon… In this interview Carole opened her heart and talked about everything since her early beginning…

Let’s talk about your new look…

Changing is my identity even if I was not a singer I would have had a new look every now and then… this is Carole Samaha… Since I am originally a director and an actress I adore portraying different characters, this satisfies my talents. You will find a completely new Carole in every clip in terms of the look, idea, story board, directing and shooting techniques and location.

Let’s talk about acting…

I studied acting and directing at the university and I hold a masters degree in directing. I did several TV series, drama plays and musicals with the Al Rahbaniya through which I used to sing, act and dance. These plays were shown only in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, the rest of the Arab countries don’t know this side of Carole Samaha. Four years ago I decided to take a break from acting and concentrate more on my singing career. I wanted to have more exposure through out the Middle East through my voice especially because my name was always connected with Al Rahbaniya so I wanted to have my own identity as a singer. I have to say that working with the Al Rahbaniya is an honor to anyone who works with them, they are a great school. Nowadays I am returning back with “Zanoubia” a new musical with Al Rahbaniya. I had many cinematic offers especially from Egypt, but I don’t want to take any risks especially that it will be my first role in the cinema and I could not go wrong as the cinema is considered to be a history for every actor and actress. I didn’t find the suitable character and idea until now, however I am still searching.

Your start was very dramatic, why was that?

I wanted to take things slowly and did not want to shock the viewers with crazy ideas therefore I started with normal dramatic story boards. For example in the romantic song “Etalaa’ feya” I appeared to be a normal romantic fragile woman, “Ghaly Alia” had some dancing and wild gipsy like look, then “Ismaagny” was a complete switch, to dancing. When I started all the singers were dancing and presenting light songs that is why I opted to choose an intense song that exposes my vocal talents then I started gradually to show my other talents. I believe that there should be a freedom of expression in any kind of art. When I started working with French director Terri Vernn on my new clip “Zaalney”, he decided to focus on Carole as a woman without any models or any kind of distraction around me. There were lots of criticism on this clip, regarding the new look, however my intentions were not to be a seducing woman, just to focus on my feminine side.

You worked with Nadine Labaky, Caroline Labaky, Selim El Turk and Terri Vernn, who did you feel comfortable with?

I attended the university with Nadine and Selim and we graduated together. Selim El Turk is very talented, moody and has always crazy ideas, he has no rule. Working with the Labaky sisters is very nice; their treatment for any song is very profound even if it is a simple and popular song. They have the ability to transfer a certain feeling to the viewers. Terri has many talents and can do any kind of clip, romantic, weird, funky whatever.

Do you interfere with the directing of your clips?

I have huge problem with the directors. I usually discuss with the director the concept of the clip.  I even get involved in the editing. I sometimes get to be an annoying person.

Are you planning to sing in the Egyptian dialect?

Of course I will, however I wanted to be presented as a Lebanese singer at the beginning of my career. I am preparing for my fourth album which will include several Egyptian songs.

Although you did not sing in the Egyptian dialect, the satellite channels helped in your popularity in Egypt?

Definitely, satellite channels helped me a lot, since it is very difficult for any singer to be popular in Egypt without singing in the Egyptian songs. Besides the sound track for “Ahlam Omrena” movie helped me too.

Let’s move to the music and lyrics, who is your favorite poet and composer?

I love Marwan Khoury’s lyrics very much since it touches my heart deeply, Selim Assaf, a young talented poet and composer, who wrote “Ghaly Alia”, “Ismaany” and “Adwaa El Shouhra”. His lyrics are very fluid and full of innocent romance. As for the Music arrangement, I like very much Jean Marie, Hady Sharara, and Michel Fadel.

 
Everyone is talking about your decision to move to France, Can you tell us about that?

Yes, I have decided to move to France since my whole family is living there and I acquired recently the French nationality. I also live in Dubai since my manager, Hania Refaat, lives there and I am going back and forth to Lebanon. 

Let’s move to your personal life, since we don’t know much about you…

I consider love to be more important and essential than my artistic life, people come and go however, love exists all the time. I am a very passionate person, so I believe that I should be surrounded by the people who really care about me as Carole. I have not been very successful in my love experiences, I have to admit that my career have been an obstacle in my love life. It is very difficult for any successful woman to make a balance between her love life and her career.  I have felt sometimes jealousy from me and on me which is the worst thing you can ever feel and go through.

I love motherhood, this is my weakness. Sometimes women just get married for this purpose; however I will not do that. I am going to get married because I want to, to have a partner, friend, companion, someone to live and die with. Loneliness is my friend so I don’t have a problem with that, though I am very social and love people.

You have signed with Pepsi for their campaign…

Yes I did. I am going to be a Pepsi star for the year 2006/07. We have already shot 2 ads.

Do you think this is beneficial for the singer?

Let me tell you something singers live from their concerts and their advertisements in order to live well. I think that choosing a product is very important, when I choose a product it should add to my name not vice versa. Yeah I believe that I should benefit both financially and for my image.

How do you deal with the competition?

I hear everyone and I have to know what is going on around me. However I can not evaluate anyone. Competition is very important so I can improve and develop myself to the best. I don’t get worried from the competition; I compete with myself, not with anyone else. I like, Laila Ogfran’s voice something in her voice is very touching, I like Elissa’s feelings while she is singing, Sherin .

Haifaa is a phenomenon, she is Marline Monroe the East. I don’t have any friends in my career. 

Are you planning any duets?

I don’t like to do things because it is the fashion. I want to do a duet with an international singer, however until now nothing materialized.

Do you still have the same friends?

Yes, I can not give up my friends.