Mawazine 2016: Sherine Abdelwahab says laziness is behind The Voice winners lack of success

Sherine Abdelwahab performs at the 2016 Mawazine Festival in Morocco. Courtesy Wahid Tajani

Saeed Saeed

Sherine Abdelwahab acknowledges Arab Idol winners have a higher profile than those who won The Voice.

The winning mentor of The Voice's latest season (with Jordanian contestant Nedaa Shrara) admitted that previous champions, Mourad Bouriki in the inaugural season in 2013 and Sattar Saad the following year, have not reached the career highs of Arab Idol's Mohammed Assaf and Dounia Batman.

Abdelwahab hints a lack of work ethic could be at play.

“It has more to do with the artist themselves. How prepared are they to work hard. I don’t think its just about having a record label or big management behind you,” she says.

"If you won The Voice then you already have a fanbase and with social media you can get your message across. But are you willing to go out there and work hard? Or are you a little lazy?"

Abdelwahab said that Shrara has a signed a seven year recording contract and she has already began working on new songs.

The Mawazine Festival continues until May 28. Visit www.festivalmawazine.ma for more details