User:Mona MG/sandbox

Nader Guirat
Nader Guirat winner of Star Academy 5 carrying the Tunisian flag and the trophy on stage at the show's finale
Background information
Birth name	Nader Guirat
Born	(1986-05-16) 16 May 1986 Sousse, Tunisia
Genres	Pop, pop rock, alternative
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, classical guitar
Years active	2008–present
Website	nader-guirat.com Nader Guirat's Logo

Nader Guirat (/ˈɡrt/; in Arabic نادر قيراط) born May 16, 1986 is a Tunisian pop-rock singer-songwriter-musician. Nader first appeared on the public’s radar in 2008 when he won the title of Star Academy at the 5th season of the hugely popular reality talent show in the Arab World. He made headlines when he became the first winner in the show’s history who primarily performed a non-Arabic repertoire of songs interpreting varied genres of Pop, Rock, House, acoustic and variété Française (French variety). Nader’s arsenal, on the show, encompasses performances in English, French, Italian, Spanish as well as Arabic. He sang alongside artists the likes of; Tina Arena, Chris De Burgh, Alessandro Safina, Cheb Khaled, Akram Sedkaoui, Amel Bent, Nadia, Yves Larock, Karl Wolf, Massari, Hot Banditoz, Ahmed Al-Sherif among others.

Early life

Nader Guirat was born on May 16, 1986, in the coastal city of Sousse, in Tunisia, to Nejib Guirat, a prominent business man and Raoudha Boukthir. The eldest child of the couple, his younger siblings are sister Nahed and brother Zied.

Since childhood, Nader had been fascinated with music something which had always been significant in Guirat’s life. His first public performance was at the age of five in nursery school, where he performed songs of late veteran Egyptian singer Abdul Halim Hafiz. To this day Nader still tends to lean towards the classics. In an interview with a local Tunisian magazine Le Temps, Nader describes when he first defied himself to become a singer, while watching TV with his father he spurted out that "One Day You Will See Me Out There"

Guirat realized that acoustic and pop rock genres were more of his style when he first picked up a guitar at 14. Though his attention was still split between music and sports, trying his hand at martial arts, soccer and tennis, he formed his first band, ‘Hypnos’at age 15, and recorded his first demo, singing lead and produced his first album with the band with songs in French and English.

Music career

Star Academy (2008)

Nader performing on stage with Tina Arena in Lebanon on the show - Star Academy 2008

In 2008 Nader auditioned for the 5th season of the show Star Academy which is the Arab World's version of the French show with its namesake Star Academy (France) based in Lebanon. Along with Nader there were 19 other participants at the competition representing different countries from the Middle East and North Africa. After 4 months, which is the duration of the airing of the show, at the show's grand finale with three finalists, amongst which was Nader, Nader won that seasons' title by getting the highest percentage of votes from voting viewers all over the world. Thus, becoming the first Tunisian and contestant from the Arab Maghreb to win the much coveted title of the show. Back home Nader received a heros welcome on arrival at Tunis-Carthage Airport from the former Tunisian Minister of Culture, fellow Tunisians and fans who came in large numbers to the airport and were in his house at his home town of Sousse to greet him and celebrate his and their victory. The show launched Nader's music career and the win kicked it into high gear.

L'Ange Perdu (2009)

2009 was a turning point in Guirat’s career, when he released his début single ‘L’Ange Perdu’ (The Lost Angel), performed in French, a reprise of an Arabic score by singer/composer Marwan Khoury. The lyrics which he co-penned with fellow countryman Ayman Jouadi echo a story from Nader’s childhood. He financed the project and collaborated with music arranger Michel Fadel and ‘The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine’, where the song video was shot. "L’Ange Perdu" received best song of the year award from Tunisian radio station Jawhara FM

Crimea Music Fest (September 2011)

Nader performing at the Crimea Music Fest in the Ukraine, 2011

In 2011 organisers of the first international music festival in the Ukraine, Crimea Music Fest, invited Nader to participate at the festival as a performer and contestant representing his country Tunisia. Thus, becoming the only participant from the Arab World to partake in the international festival.

Contestants on the show were required to present two performances, an Internationl hit song and a traditional song of cultural significance representing each contestant's country. Nader performed the hit song 'Aicha' by Algerian singer Cheb Khaled for the international hit category and performed the Tunisian folk song 'Sidi Mansour' for the second category.

Duet Reve-Helma (October 2011)

Two years following the release of his first single, Nader released a Franco-Arab duet entitled ‘Helma-Rêve’ (Dream), a joint collaboration with Tunisian singer Mohammed Dahleb. The two young artists got together and recorded the single written by fellow Tunisian musician Zaher Zorgati with arrangement and realisation by Kais Melliti. Nader and Mohamed went on to promote their new single at various Tunisian radio stations were the song was first released to the public.

Operette 'Nehebak Ya Chaab' نحبك يا شعب (November 2011)

Following the breakout of the Tunisian revolution an array of veteran and young Tunisian artists and celebrities came together to celebrate its first anniversary with the production of “Nhebak Ya Chaab” (A song for the people). Nader was amongst the all-star cast of performers including veteran singer Lotfi Bouchnak. For the shooting of the music video, Arab and Tunisian media, including Radio Sfax with their star host Karim Qutatah, were present to cover the first Tunisian production of this magnitude that commemorates the revolution. Music by Nomene Chaari and directed by Mehdi Ben Omar.

The Band "OxyMore"

Oxymore Band members

Current members

• Nader Guirat – lead vocals, Guitar
• Mohammed Al-Okbi – base
• Karim Gharbi – guitar, back-up vocals
• Hichem Mazgou – percussion, vocals

Previous band members

• Rafik Gharbi – keyboard, back-up vocals

Nader Guirat with his Oxymore Band members

Late 2011 Nader formed his new band 'OxyMore'. A 4 member group consisting of 3 guitarists including Nader and a percussionist. Nader came up with the name of the group which reflects on the members' age gap and varied musical styles.

I'm Waiting (February 2012)

In 2012, Nader released a new record featuring American singer, Dylan Lloyd, a fellow contestant he had met at Crimea Music Fest. The Crimea Music Festival organisers released a write-up on their website on the collaboration of both artists Nader and Dylan marking the record's release. The single “I’m Waiting” was released in February of the same year. Nader and Dylan are currently working on the music video production of their song.

The Jasmine's Calling_New Single (September 2012)

On September 7 Guirat announced on Facebook the release of his latest single ‘The Jasmine’s Calling’, the song was uploaded on his fanpage with the post heading “Pour une Tunisie Libre et Moderne” (for a free and modern Tunisia). The song, composed by Guirat, follows the recent turmoil in Tunisia in the aftermath of the January 2011 Tunisian revolution dubbed by the international media ‘The Jasmine Revolution’. The outcome of which has become increasingly frustrating for the Tunisians as development is slow paced and political parties stand at a face-off for power. The song sends a message to all Tunisian people to unite as ‘one’ for the future of their country and to set aside their political and religious differences, explains Guirat in an interview with Tunisian ‘Al-Chourouk’ newspaper. The song is a music compilation of Rock with an added oriental flare showcased in the use of instruments such as the Middle Eastern flute, Ney and Oriental drum, Darabuka.

'The Jasmine’s Calling' is composed by Guirat, lyrics by Canadian lyricist Ramona, arrangement by fellow Tunisian Elyes Bouchoucha, orchestration and mix at Studio Event, Tunisia and music mastering at Color Sound Studio, Paris, France.

Promoting ‘The Jasmine’s Calling’ on Tunisian Radio station, Jawhara FM Guirat talked about his future plans of moving to Paris, France which is to be his new permanent residence. Guirat explains that he has found the music scene there more inviting to his ambitions and the music style/genre he is adopting. He added that in France his plans include working on more songs he has in store for his début album.

Awards

Nader received a joint award from the Tunisian radio station Jawhara FM for best song of the year for 'L'Ange Perdu' as a result of an online nation-wide survey. The award was presented to him in a live broadcast.

Discography

• "L'Ange Perdu" (2009)
• "Reve-Helma" (2011)
• “I’m Waiting” (February 2012)
• "The Jasmine's Calling" (September 2012)

External links

• Nader Guirat Official Website
• Nader Guirat Official Facebook Page
• Nader Guirat Facebook Account
• Nader Guirat on Myspace
• Nader Guirat Twitter Page
• Nader Guirat Youtube Page
• Nader Guirat on Sound Cloud
• Crimea Music Fest Official Page
• 'I'm Waiting' on Apple iTunes Store
• Jawhara FM Website
• Radio Mosaique FM
• Nader Guirat's Arabic Wikipedia Page صفحة نادر قيراط بالعربية على ويكيبيديا

Category:1986 births Category:Tunisian singers Category:Star Academy winners Category:Living people Category:Tunisian musicians Category:Tunisian composers Category:Guitarists