From Elissa to Tamer Hosny: which Arab artists are expected to release new albums this year?

Many of the region’s biggest stars are using time away from the stage to record or put some final touches on their latest tracks

Lebanese singer Elissa has dropped her latest album 'Sabhit Raey'. Getty

Elissa fans are edging closer to hearing new tunes from the Lebanese singer.

The star was forced to push back the release of her new album due to delayed recording sessions because of the coronavirus.

While the diva did satiate fans by recently dropping a new song, Hanghani Kaman Wi Kaman, which doubled as a public safety announcement to stay at home during the pandemic, it is the new album that people are waiting for.

Elissa confirmed on Twitter with a celebratory photo that the album will be released soon.

“Social distancing when celebrating the recording of the last song of the album, after 40 days of delay because of the virus,” she said.

"The album is done, and we can finally say that there will be something positive in 2020.”

What do we know about the new album?

Following the style of Hanghani Kaman Wi Kaman, the latest album will be full of Egyptian-style pop songs.

In addition to being sung in the country’s dialect, the track also features the work of a top Egyptian songwriting trio: composer Mohammed Yeyha, lyricist Shady Nour and arranger Elhamy Dheima.

What we do not know, however, is if Elissa intends to commit to an earlier statement that the coming album would be her last.

Elissa shocked fans last year when she said her next project would be her final album, because of the creative constraints placed upon her by a regional music industry she described as a "mafia". Maybe massive sales of another album would make her reconsider?

Other new albums on the way

Elissa is not the only artist preparing to release new music. It seems that a bunch of the region’s biggest stars have been using time away from the stage to record or put some final touches on their new albums. While no release dates have been confirmed as yet, here are a few artists we know are releasing new material soon.

Tamer Hosny

The Egyptian superstar is toying with either releasing his yet-to-be titled new album during the Eid Al Fitr holidays (which are expected to start around Saturday, May 23) or dropping it later in the summer.

Hosny's star power means he is once again working with some of the best Arabic pop producers and lyricists in the industry. In the new tracks, one song features lyrics written by Mohamed Rahim, while another features lyrics penned by Amir Teima.

Nancy Ajram

The Lebanese singer returned to the studio and finished recording new songs in April. Ajram shared the news with fans through a few Instagram Live sessions, in which she confirmed her latest album is a mixed bag of pop styles ranging from Lebanese and Khaleeji to Egyptian.

Ragheb Alama

Like Elissa, Lebanese crooner Alama is also working with Egyptian composers for his next project. It was recently reported that he got Egyptian poet Amr Al Masri to contribute to the new album.

The record has been in the works for more than a year, with Alama dropping the odd new song – such as Redelli Kelmati – to give fans a taste of what is to come.

"I have been in the studio and working on the next project," he told The National last year. "I still think the album is an important form. But doing these singles also helps, as it shows what people's tastes are. I am glad they still enjoy what I am doing after all these years."

Fayez Al Saeed

The Emirati singer-songwriter is getting ready for the release of a new EP. Speaking to Al Bayan newspaper in March, he said the project will be more ballad-heavy. "I have been more inclined to writing romantic songs," he said. "This is a completely different style to my earlier works, which were faster paced."

Two of the new songs are called Karitha and Sharik Al Rouh.