Emerging Fervour

I came across Tanya Traboulsi when interviewing musician, Zeid Hamdan (check out the interview here). An amazing photographer, Tanya captures the atmosphere of all her subjects and I just couldn’t resist asking her some big questions…

Tanya, we saw your work when we interviewed Zeid Hamdan and fell in love with it, please tell us a little about you?

I grew up in Beirut and at some point moved to Austria, then came back to Lebanon. Photography was always part of my life, even as a child. I didn’t study it though, I studied fashion design and then later on started working in photography.

Your images really capture atmosphere’s and emotions, what’s your secret?

I think that the most important thing in life is to have a passion for something. Anything you do that you truly love, will succeed. And this passion and love will show in your work, whatever work it is. Also, I think that it’s really important to know (or at least try to know) what you want in / from life, and more importantly what you don’t want. Once you have figured that out, things become much easier.

What was your favourite shoot?

I can’t really think of only one favourite shoot… When I shoot concerts and musicians, I feel really inspired and at ease, because I love and have always loved music, and the musicians that I photograph are wonderful artists that truly inspire me.

Carte Blanche to The Ex ∨

Haussmann Tree ∨

Ben Frost ∨

A-Trio ∨

Charbel Haber | Tony Elieh | Tarek Atoui ∨

All my series are quite personal and have a special meaning to me, like for example my latest series that I shot in Beirut, called “Collection 1983″.

∧ “Collection 1983 was shot in an abandoned wood factory during the Lebanese civil war that was later occupied by militias. The raw concrete walls became a canvas for their hopes and dreams as fighting raged around. Locked away and neglected, these palimpsest images offer a snapshot into the minds of forgotten soldiers” ∨

If you could have chosen to photograph any event of the past 100 years, what event would that be?

An interview with Zeid from Soapkills, one of a duo we covered a little while ago. Zeid gives us an idea about the underground music scene in Lebanon, how the war affected him and what his perfect day out would be…intrigued?

Zeid, tell us about yourself

I was born in Ashrafieh (Lebanon) in a Hospital that’s now a music shop called Mozart Chahine.

I don’t know why music and film, no one in the family is into that scene. I guess for me, it’s because of the fantasy aspect of it, all my childhood has been about extraordinary adventures, maybe I didn’t want to get out of it.

I spent my childhood moving between Cyprus, Lebanon and Europe because of the war and a lot of my musical influence has come from France where I was exposed to a lot of western pop music.

What projects are you working on now?

I’m working on the new album of The New Government the recordings should be in Montreal in August, the release maybe beginning of 2011.

The New Government | Lebanon 2009 ∨

I’m the musical director for Danielle Arbid’s next movie where I’ll developing my own music, a mixture of arabic english and pop!

Tell us about The New Government…why was it formed and what does it stand for?

The band was born in Lebanon in November 2004 at a time of political instability. What initially came up as a 6-member band known as “The Government”, we eventually reached a configuration of 5 members (Jeremie, Nabil, Cherif, Timothee and myself) we proclaimed ourselves as “The New Government” (Since there was no official government in Lebanon at the time, so it made sense).

The New Government | Paris 2009 ∨

What happened to Soapkills? And how did you and Yasmine come to work with each other?

Soapkills is on pause for the moment, Yasmine and I are both exploring our potential as individuals, but we’re still in contact and good friends.

I met Yasmine in 1994 when she was at College Protestant in Lebanon, I fell in love with her and did everything to get her working on a project with me, our mutual passion for music helped. The combination of our personalities gave birth to Soapkills.

What is the underground music scene in Lebanon like for you?

Very vibrant – with new bands like Pop will save us, The Incompetents, Fariq el Atrash, Mashrou’ Leila, The 961 Underground, Katibe 5. These are the new comers on the underground scene and they are pretty active. Check this blog http://www.feelnotes.wordpress.com, my friend Omar el Fil reviews every good thing happening in town.

Mashrou’ Leila | Beirut 2009 ∨

Katibe 5 | Beirut 2008 ∨