Sami Yusuf Explained

Sami Yusuf
Background:solo_singer
Image Upright:1.1
Birth Date:21 July 1980
Birth Place:Tehran, Iran[1]
Years Active:2003–present

Sami Yusuf (born 21 July 1980) is a British singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer.[2] He gained international attention with the release of his debut album, Al-Muʽallim, in 2003.[3] As of 2020, he has released eight studio albums, five live albums and one compilation album. His studio albums were mostly released by Andante Records, with the first two being released by Awakening Records.[4] [5] He has sold over 34 million albums as of 2016.[6]

Besides English, Yusuf has performed in Arabic, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Persian, Turkish, Punjabi, as well as, Urdu, sometimes in the same work, as was the case with his hit, Hasbi Rabbi. His work is marked by blending different musical styles and genres, including elements from Sufi, folk, and Rock music. He used his multilingual and multi-instrumentalist style to address social, spiritual, and humanitarian issues.[7] In recognition of his philanthropy, in 2014, Yusuf was appointed United Nations Global Ambassador for the World Food Programme.[8] [9] [10]

Early life

Sami Yusuf was born Siyamak Radmanesh (Persian: سیامک رادمنش) on 21 July 1980 in Tehran to Azerbaijani parents.[11] His grandparents are from Baku, Azerbaijan, from which they left for Iran when it was captured by the Bolsheviks following World War I. Yusuf and his parents later arrived in Ealing, West London, in the early 1980s, after the Islamic Revolution in Iran.[12] From an early age, Yusuf showed great interest in music. He was influenced by the wide range of musical genres available to him in Ealing, immersing himself especially in Western classical music and Middle Eastern music.[13] He learned the piano and violin as well as traditional instruments including the oud, setar, and tonbak.[14] At the age of 16, Yusuf experienced a spiritual revival that made him become a "more committed Muslim". In 2003, although considering pursuing a career in law, he produced and released his first album.[15] It quickly became an international success and launched Yusuf's professional music career. Yusuf studied music as a composition student at the prestigious Royal Academy, as well as at Salford University in north-west England.

Music career

2003–2009

In 2003, Yusuf released his debut album, Al-Muʽallim, an album that he produced, wrote, and performed.[16] Its feature song, Al-Mu'allim, became a hit in the Middle East, North Africa, and South-East Asia, topping the charts in Egypt and Turkey for twelve consecutive weeks, selling millions of copies worldwide and reaching a diverse audience.[17] [18] The last track of the album, Supplication, was used in the Golden-Globe award-nominated film, The Kite Runner.[19] [20]

Yusuf garnered increased worldwide recognition following the release of his second album, My Ummah, in 2005.[21] The album, using both Eastern and Western sounds, utilised wide-ranging musical instrumentation. Considered a breakthrough album, it sold over four million copies globally[22] and was well received, particularly by young people, who identified closely with the themes of Yusuf's lyrics.[23]

Yusuf left Awakening Records following a controversy over Without You, an album that he claimed was released without his knowledge or consent.[24]

2010–2016

Wherever You Are, Yusuf's third official album, was released in March 2010. Rolling Stone called the album "beautifully produced".[25] With its release, Yusuf welcomed what he termed a "new chapter" in his professional career and music.[26]

Yusuf's fourth album, Salaam, was released in December 2012.[27] Within four months of its launch it achieved platinum status in Southeast Asia and was the best-selling album in the Middle East and North Africa.[28] [29] [30] The album includes the song "Hear Your Call," composed by Yusuf to call attention to the situation of people who are affected by natural disasters.[31] [32] [33]

The Centre was released in 2014 and is a collection of 13 songs in which Yusuf hopes his listeners will find inspiration to seek their individual spiritual centres.[34] It is a new sound that has multicultural influences, employing traditional as well as contemporary Middle Eastern, North African, and European poetry, instrumentation, and melodies.

Yusuf's sixth album, Songs of the Way, was released in January 2015. All lyrics are by the noted philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr and are from his books of poetry, Poems of the Way and The Pilgrimage of Life. Except for two tracks in Persian and Arabic, the songs are in English.[35]

Barakah, Yusuf's seventh album, was released in February 2016 by Andante Records.[36] It is the result of extensive research into the traditional music and poetry contained in the album. Yusuf said it is his musical response to the increasing chaos and noise of today's world, and his wish is that these music and lyrics offer a window onto an inner oasis of peace and harmony.[37] [38] The song "Mast Qalandar" from Barakah reached #1 on World Music charts on iTunes and BBC Music.[39] [40] [41] [42] [43]

According to Yusuf, the new album aims "to respond to the growing extremism in our world with a call for a return to harmony and balance."[44]

Following its release, Yusuf performed in the Dubai Opera in 2016 and released it as a live album.

2017–present

In 2017, Yusuf performed in New Delhi, India. 4 songs from the performance were released in 2019.

In 2018, Yusuf released his new EP, SAMi, as a side project that grew out of his desire to explore his British musical roots.[45] The song collection, with its accessible sounds and direct lyricism, finds Yusuf's exploring the western sounds emanating from his childhood growing up in London.[46]

SAMi has sold well and topped a number of iTunes charts since its release, and Yusuf says he is grateful and somewhat surprised that he wasn't criticised for the commercial nature of the project.[47]

Yusuf performed in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2019 (A Timeless Presence) with nine new songs exploring Azerbaijani culture and all instruments except for the piano being Azerbaijani.

In November 2020, Yusuf gave an online concert from his studio at home. He performed his singles "Al Faqir" and "The 99 Names", released in May 2018 and May 2020 respectively.

In late 2021, Yusuf performed at Expo 2020.

Yusuf has said that he plans to release a new album by the name of Ecstasy. While originally planned for 2019, the project was delayed to 2022.

Notable tours and concert performances

Playing in Farum Arena, Denmark, Grugahalle in Germany, and De Doelen in the Netherlands, Yusuf introduced his forthcoming album, Wherever You Are.[48] He performed in Azerbaijan for the first time in 2006, for the second time in 2015 (14–15 March), and 22 March 2017 in Heydar Aliyev Palace in Baku, 250,000 people attended his performance in Taksim Square in Istanbul to see Yusuf perform in 2013.[49] Yusuf has played across four continents, packing venues such as Wembley Arena in London, Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and The Velodrome in Cape Town, South Africa. He sings in English, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Azerbaijani, Malay and Urdu and is backed by a range of both classical and ethnic instruments.[50] Yusuf also performed in Washington, D.C.[51]

Yusuf performed in Dubai for the first time in December 2016. He premiered the song "Glorification", inspired by the poetry of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.[52]

Humanitarian work

Since early in his professional career, Yusuf has participated in humanitarian initiatives by performing benefit concerts, releasing charity singles, and acting on behalf of organisations to relieve suffering and poverty. In response to the 2010 Pakistan floods that wreaked havoc in the country and affected 20 million lives in the summer of 2010, he promptly released a charity single entitled "Hear Your Call", performed in English and Urdu, to raise funds for the displaced Pakistanis in a joint-effort with the UN-sponsored charity organisation Save the Children.[53] [54]

In 2014, he was appointed "UN Global Ambassador" for the World Food Programme.[55]

Personal life

Sami spoke of his background as "diverse" and cited this as evidence for his "tendency to bring people together".[56] [57] He is a Sunni Muslim.

Sami Yusuf married in . His wife is of German origin and had converted to Islam before she met Yusuf.[58]

Religious and political views

See also: Islamic music. Sami Yusuf has gained widespread popularity throughout the Muslim world for his spiritual music. But artists like him and Maher Zain have faced some opposition from conservative Muslims who deem music impermissible.[59] In 2006, British journalist and convert to Islam Yvonne Ridley wrote an article criticising Yusuf for displaying patriotic sentiments at his concerts and supporting the Metropolitan Police's recruitment of British Muslims, writing that "If he is so proud to be British, why is he living in the great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt?"[60] In response, Sami wrote an open letter extensively discussing his stance on music and the modern art industry in general from both an Islamic jurisprudence perspective and a social one.[61] [62] The response was commended by several commentators.

In a previous interview, Yusuf described himself as generally apolitical. Later in 2017, he wrote an open letter criticising the Trump Muslim ban. Quoting First they came, Yusuf emphasised solidarity between the Western and Muslim worlds and opposed Trumpism.[63]

Honors and awards

In 2009, Yusuf was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of his "extraordinary contributions to the field of music" by Roehampton University, London.[64] [65] Silatech appointed him as their first Global Ambassador in the same year, later joining Ahmad Al Shugairi in the same position.[66]

Widely regarded as the highest profile Muslim musician in the UK, Yusuf has appeared each year since 2010 on the list of the "World's 500 Most Influential Muslims".[67] [68]

In 2014, the United Nations appointed him Global Ambassador Against Hunger, and in 2015 the UN appointed him as an "Elite Ambassador" for the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.[69] [70]

In 2016, Yusuf received a Recognition Award for his contributions to promoting the message of peace and tolerance as part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum World Peace Initiative.[71]

In 2019, Yusuf received an honorary diploma from the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan for his contributions to promote Azerbaijani music and culture.[72] [73] [74] [75] [76]

In the media

Discography

Studio albums

Album Year
Al-Muʽallim 2003
My Ummah 2005
2009
Wherever You Are 2010
Salaam 2012
The Centre 2014
Songs of the Way, Vol. 1 2015
Barakah2016
SAMi (EP)2018

Live albums

Album Year
Live At the Katara Amphitheatre2015
Live in Concert 20152015
Live in London 20162016
Live at the Dubai Opera 2016
Live in Concert – EP2019
Live in new Delhi – EP2019
Azerbaijan: A Timeless Presence (Live)2019
Live at the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2019
The House Concert 2020
Beyond the Stars (Live) 2022
When Paths Meet (Live at the Holland Festival) 2023
When Paths Meet (Vol. 2) 2024

Compilation albums

Album Year
The Sapiential Album, Vol. 12020
O Lovers: Music from the Unseen World2020

Singles

Album Year
Forgotten Promises2011
The Source2011
Hope Survives2014
Mast Qalandar2016
Al Faqir 2018
Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum 2019
Khorasan (Instrumental) 2019
Oblivion 2019
Light upon light 2019
The 99 Names 2020
One2020

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Aida Edemariam talks to singer Sami Yusuf. Aida. Edemariam. 5 November 2007. The Guardian.
  2. News: Singer Sami urges Pakistan relief. 2 September 2010. 10 October 2017. BBC News.
  3. Web site: Acclaimed devotional-music singer Sami Yusuf on his latest album Barakah. 16 August 2016 . 10 October 2017.
  4. Web site: Discography Archive. 16 November 2020. Sami Yusuf Official.
  5. Web site: Sami Yusuf Album Discography. 16 November 2020. AllMusic. en-us.
  6. Web site: With UAE concert, Sami Yusuf does his bit for Syria. 17 December 2016. 10 October 2017.
  7. News: Edemariam. Aida. 5 November 2007. Aida Edemariam talks to singer Sami Yusuf. en-GB. The Guardian. 16 November 2020. 0261-3077.
  8. Web site: Singer Sami Yusuf Joins WFP As Global Ambassador Against Hunger. 10 October 2017.
  9. Web site: UN News – Singer Sami Yusuf joins roster of UN Global Ambassadors Against Hunger. 26 August 2014. UN News Service Section. 14 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Sami Yusuf joins WFP as anti-hunger amb.. theiranproject.com. 14 October 2017. 27 August 2014.
  11. Web site: Сами Юсуф: "Азербайджан – моя историческая Родина". https://web.archive.org/web/20180225233004/https://news.day.az/showbiz/64294.html. dead. 22 November 2006. 25 February 2018. Day.Az.
  12. Web site: Holy rock star: The voice of Islam. Jonathan. Brown. 3 October 2007. 16 August 2018. Independent.co.uk.
  13. Web site: Holy rock star: The voice of Islam. . 3 October 2007. 10 October 2017.
  14. Web site: An ambassador for peace: Sami Yusuf. Anadolu Agency. 10 October 2017.
  15. News: Aida Edemariam talks to singer Sami Yusuf. Aida. Edemariam. 5 November 2007. 10 October 2017. The Guardian.
  16. Web site: Light in a dark world: Sami Yusuf. Thenational.ae. 17 December 2010 . 14 October 2017.
  17. Web site: Singer Sami Yusuf And WFP Join In Support For Drought-Stricken Horn Of Africa. 14 October 2017.
  18. Web site: Al Mu'allim – Sami Yusuf Official. samiyusufofficial.com. 14 October 2017.
  19. News: 18 August 2007. Star Yusuf hopes music helps Muslim image. Reuters. 14 October 2017.
  20. Web site: Sami Yusuf's blessed life. David Tusing. 5 February 2015. 14 October 2017.
  21. Web site: My Ummah. 18 March 2008. 14 October 2017. Amazon.com.
  22. Web site: Sami Yusuf to hit the National Stadium Saturday. 27 September 2013. 14 October 2017.
  23. Web site: Mawazine presents Sami Yusuf and Nawal Al Zoghbi. Festival Mawazine. 14 October 2017.
  24. Web site: 2009-02-11. Boycott the Fake Album "Without You". 2021-11-29. Sami Yusuf Official. EN.
  25. Web site: Sami Yusuf to perform in the Washington DC area. 30 August 2014. 14 October 2017.
  26. Web site: Sami Yusuf releases new album in Dubai. Samia Badih. 9 November 2010. 14 October 2017.
  27. Web site: Sami Yusuf launches new album 'Salaam'. David Tusing. 5 March 2013. 14 October 2017.
  28. Web site: Sami Yusuf hopes to draw in the ME big bucks with 'Peace'. 2 December 2012. 14 October 2017.
  29. Web site: Sami Yusuf. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/15489312139/10151994549127140 . 2022-02-26 . limited. Facebook.com. 14 October 2017.
  30. Web site: Singer Sami Yusuf promotes new album 'Salaam' in İstanbul . 14 October 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130603085053/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-311367-singer-sami-yusuf-promotes-new-album-salaam-in-istanbul.html . 3 June 2013 .
  31. News: Singer Sami urges Pakistan relief. 2 September 2010. 14 October 2017. BBC News.
  32. Web site: UK singers support flood relief campaign – The Express Tribune. 4 September 2010. 14 October 2017.
  33. Web site: Sami Yusuf records single for victims of Pakistan floods – News – Music Week. Musicweek.com. 14 October 2017.
  34. Web site: Gems of thousand years – Yusuf to unveil 'Barakah' – ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS. 5 December 2016. 14 October 2017.
  35. Web site: World-renowned Sami Yusuf newest album released. 5 January 2015. 14 October 2017.
  36. Web site: Gems of thousand years – Yusuf to unveil 'Barakah' – ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS. 5 December 2016. 14 October 2017.
  37. Web site: "Barakah" by Sami Yusuf on iTunes. itunes.apple.com. February 2016. 14 October 2017.
  38. Web site: Sami Yusuf to launch new album in Dubai. 4 August 2016. 23 October 2017.
  39. Web site: Sami Yusuf teams up with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. David Tusing. 20 April 2016. 14 October 2017.
  40. Web site: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan would love to collaborate with this artist – The Express Tribune. 22 July 2016. 14 October 2017.
  41. Web site: 'Mast Qalandar' #2 on the official BBC Asian Music charts! - Sami Yusuf Official. Sami Yusuf Official. 14 October 2017. 2 May 2016.
  42. Web site: 'Mast Qalandar' reigns at #1 on iTunes! . Sami Yusuf Official . 11 May 2016 .
  43. Web site: Sounds – Mixes . BBC .
  44. Web site: Sami Yusuf: 'Barakah' is my response to atrocities carried out in the name of Islam. 11 August 2016. 14 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171015201934/http://gulfnews.com/multimedia/gntv/life-style/sami-yusuf-barakah-is-my-response-to-atrocities-carried-out-in-the-name-of-islam-1.1877718. 15 October 2017. dead.
  45. Web site: Sami Yusuf takes musical ride home with new EP. gulfnews.com. 16 December 2018 . en. 4 October 2019.
  46. Web site: Exclusive: singer Sami Yusuf announces new album for this year. The National. 14 January 2019 . en. 4 October 2019.
  47. Web site: Sami Yusuf: 'If one has a strong spiritual discipline, it lessens the burden'. The National. 15 January 2019 . en. 4 October 2019.
  48. http://www.samiyusufofficial.com/main/timeline/ All tours and concert details listed in the SYO Timeline
  49. Web site: Sami Yusuf to perform in Oman. 29 July 2013. Gulfnews.com. 17 November 2016.
  50. http://www.samiyusufofficial.com/tour/ Sami Yusuf Tour and concert List
  51. http://www.strathmore.org/EVENTSTICKETS/calendar/view.asp?id=10995 Sami Yusuf in DC
  52. News: Sami Yusuf to perform in Dubai for first time. 26 October 2016. GulfNews. 10 November 2016.
  53. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11168106 BBC: Singer Sami Yusuf Donating Music Profits to Pakistan
  54. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/09/09/barnett.pakistan.aid.singer.cnn?iref=allsearch Muslim Rock Star Helps Flood Victims
  55. Web site: Private sector. 1.wfp.org. en. 6 December 2018.
  56. Web site: Hasan Ali. Salma. 6 February 2015. Centered: The Music and Passion of Sami Yusuf. 16 November 2020. The Islamic Monthly.
  57. International sensation Sami Yusuf. The Stream. The Stream (news programme). Aljazeera English. 23 December 2011. You know, that's it. That's what I love. I love to bring people together. I'm an Iranian-born ethnic Azeri who grew up in England, married a German lady, and embraced Sunni Islam. That's a really interesting combination. . . . I'm not interested in politics, generally. I don't like politics, including Islamic politics.. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/3MRunwy16oc . 2021-12-21 . live. 13:50, 14:15, and 15:15.
  58. News: Sami Yusuf: A sacred trust. The National (Abu Dhabi).
  59. Web site: Shahid. Omar. 4 December 2013. The rise and rise of Islamic music. 17 November 2020. Aljazeera English. en.
  60. Web site: Ridley. Yvonne. 24 April 2006. Pop Culture in the Name of Islam. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060904002820/http://www.dailymuslims.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1807&Itemid=238. 4 September 2006. 17 November 2020. Daily Muslims.
  61. Otterbeck. Jonas. 2014. What is Islamic Arts? And what makes art Islamic? The example of the Islamic discourse on music. CILE Journal. 7–29.
  62. Web site: Yusuf. Sami. 6 January 2009. Open letter from Sami Yusuf to Yvonne Ridley. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090106160719/http://www.samiyusuf.com/messages/Sami_Yusuf_open_letter.htm. 6 January 2009. 17 November 2020. Samiyusuf.com. Awakening Music.
  63. Web site: Yusuf. Sami. 31 January 2017. Sami Yusuf's Open Letter regarding President Trump's Muslim Ban – Sami Yusuf Official. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203170555/http://samiyusufofficial.com/sami-yusufs-open-letter-regarding-president-trumps-muslim-ban/. 3 February 2017. 17 November 2020. Samiyusufofficial.
  64. Web site: Honorary Degrees. University of Roehampton. 14 October 2017.
  65. Web site: Sami Yusuf – Doctor of Letters Graduation Ceremony. Vimeo. 14 October 2017.
  66. Web site: Silatech | Yong People.. Enterprise.. Employment... dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101012171043/http://www.silatech.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=140&Itemid=120. 12 October 2010. Silatech.
  67. Web site: 40 Out of 500 Influential Muslims in the World Are American. 26 June 2013. 14 October 2017.
  68. Web site: Yusuf, Sami – The Muslim 500. themuslim500.com. 14 October 2017.
  69. Web site: Singer Sami Yusuf Joins WFP As Global Ambassador Against Hunger. 14 October 2017.
  70. Web site: Singer @SamiYusuf joins @WFP as a Global Ambassador -- against #hunger. Twitter.com. 26 August 2014. 14 October 2017.
  71. Web site: Four Poets of Peace honoured in Dubai. Noorhan Barakat. 23 February 2016. 10 October 2017.
  72. Web site: Azerbaijan's First VP presents honorary President of Azerbaijan diploma to famous singer, composer Sami Yusuf (PHOTO). 2 October 2019. Trend.Az. en. 19 October 2019.
  73. Web site: First VP Mehriban Aliyeva presents Sami Yusuf honorary diploma [PHOTO]]. 2 October 2019. AzerNews.az. en. 19 October 2019.
  74. Web site: First VP Mehriban Aliyeva presents honorary President of Azerbaijan diploma to famous singer Sami Yusuf. news.az. 19 October 2019.
  75. Web site: Mehriban Aliyeva presented Sami Yusuf honorary diploma of President of Azerbaijan. ONA.az. ONA. az-AZ. 19 October 2019.
  76. Web site: First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva presents an Honorary Diploma of the Azerbaijani President to renowned singer and composer Sami Yusuf. mehriban-aliyeva.az. en. 19 October 2019.
  77. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/27/1 The biggest star in the Middle East is a Brit
  78. Web site: Riz Khan. Riz Khan. 2 October 2007. Sami Yusuf: King of Islamic Pop. 18 February 2017. Al Jazeera.
  79. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dws-be02S94 Riz Khan – Sami Yusuf: King of Islamic Pop – 1 Oct 07
  80. http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1262372552744&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout IOL
  81. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8189249.stm 30 more famous Britons you've probably never heard of