At 23 years of age, and fresh from the blockbuster release of his first album, Saadi has the musical potential to be around for many years to come. He talks exclusively to DG and proves that – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree...

Please brief us about the life of the rising star Saadi before you started professional singing. What were your ambitions before singing?
I am 23 years and I was born in Ismailia. My father was a popular artist who specialized in ‘semsemeya’ which is a unique well-liked art in Ismailia, Port-Said and Suez. My brother is the well known composer Walid Saad. I am from a musical artistic family. I always track and admire all the music composed by my brother Walid Saad for all the famous stars. In addition to studying art, I tried developing my artistic education by listening to songs and compositions by all artists. As for my ambitions before starting to sing, I was a football player in the Ismaili club and because of my profound love for singing I left playing football.

Is Saadi the up-coming romantic singer especially after the launch of your first album which contains various romantic songs?
The critics and audiences classified me as a romantic singer because of the song ‘nefsi ahebek’ which is romantic, gentle and soft. Moreover, the album includes several romantic songs. In spite of that the album includes a variety of songs of different styles.

Is Saadi worried from the enemies of success when they say that your success was because of the support of your brother Walid Saad?
It is natural that people say that and it is not a problem that my brother Walid helps and supports me. Walid helped many artists and it is not a problem that he helps people who deserve it. In addition this could happen in one song only but not in all the songs in an album. Walid is not the producer of the album. The producer is Mr. Mohamed Yassin who would not produce an album and advertise for it just for Walid’s sake.

Who was the first to congratulate you after the success of the album? Whose opinion were you keen to hear after the launch of the album?
On the same day of the launch of the album I got several calls from the Lebanese singers Wael Gassar, and Reda, the Egyptian singers, Haitham Shaker, Tamer Ashoor and Zizi. After the launch of the album I was keen to hear the opinion of my father who was very happy because wherever he walked in Ismailia he listened to my songs. He told me that I am good which made me feel the taste of success.

If you had a concert what songs would you sing for the old-timer singers and who do you listen to from the contemporary singers?
I like to sing for Mohamd Fawzy whom I am a big fan of. I also like the renowned and prominent singers from the past era such as Om Kalthoum, Abel Haleem, Fayza Ahmed and Nagat. As for the contemporary singers, I like to listen to Fadl Shaker.

In your first album you worked with famous poets such Nader Abdallah and Ayman Bahgat who are renowned poets. Will the coming Album have new names and surprises?
Nader Abdallah, Ayman Bahgat Kamar and Dr. Nabil Khalaf add a great deal to any album. I would also sing for unknown artists and poets if I like the song so we can rise and succeed together. I like to give a chance to anyone who has talent and who is in need. I also believe that famous artists are essential to any album.

Is it possible to have a song for Walid Saad composed by Saadi? Do you have any plans to have a partnership in a company together?
This is very difficult. I love singing and I am concentrating on it now, I don’t want to jump from one thing to another now.

Many people asked me to have a duet with Walid but I think it would be difficult because our voices are alike. Walid composed songs for me in my first album.

“Walid Saad helped me and the producer Mohamed Yassin did not compliment me”.

You said that you went into the singing arena by chance, so is it possible that a person could be talented and not know until someone else discovers their talent? After your success what are your plans to continue?
It was not a mere coincidence because I knew that I could sing and I loved singing, but I was not sure of my feelings and if it was right or wrong although all the people surrounding me and my friends told me that I have a great voice. As you know my friends could be complementing me. Once I was in the studio at Adel Aeesh and he was composing a song titled ‘el omr kasseer’ which I liked so much and which I have included in my album. Adel and Walid asked me to sing it and this was the first time in my life that I sang. Walid left and after I sang it he phoned me and said that Adel told him that my voice was very nice. This is where the discovery started which was in a way by chance. The success of my first album gave me a boost (push) to make another one and illustrate that its success was not a coincidence because success is very difficult to maintain.

Is talent alone sufficient to succeed, or are there other factors?
There are several other factors for success such as the video clip which in my opinion is 50% of the success because it makes people watch and listen at the same time.

What would you answer with one word for the following?
Director Yasser Samy: Popular person
Walid Saad: My older brother
Treason: May God keep us away from it
Art: May GOD Bless me in it
Love: Life
Your mother: May GOD Bless her for me