Ever since she was a toddler (at age three to be exact), Yara (born Carla in Lebanon in 1983) would practice the few songs that her mother used to play for her. This rising singing sensation later rediscovered the potential of her vocal gift when she went on to study music at the National Lebanese Conservatoire. For four years, she studied Middle Eastern singing and was exposed to a wide spectrum of sounds when practicing musical instruments ranging from the authentically Eastern ‘oud to the typically Western piano.

In 1999, she became a fresh participant in LBC satellite channel’s Ka’s El-Nojoom (Stars’ Cup). The idea of the program was to pay tribute to a different ‘star’ in each one of its weekly episodes. In the one dedicated to Egyptian singer So’aad Mohamed, Yara delivered two show-stopping performances that earned her the very first award of what would soon be her professional career: Ka’s El-Jomhoor (The Audience Cup).

Soon after, she started to make appearances at concerts all over Lebanon, covering classic songs by Lebanese divas Sabah and Fayrouz (whom she considers her idol), in addition to songs by their Egyptian counterparts, largely taken from the challenging repertoire of the legendary Om Kolthoum.

Last month, Yara arrived in Cairo to attend the launch of her debut album Etwassa Feyya (Take Good Care of Me).

The audience joined her in singing the title track, which became popular on Egyptian radio and satellite channels.

I was fortunate enough to have been there and caught myself sighing in relief as I heard her sing. I was thinking: “Finally, a new singer who can actually sing!”

The following day, I sat down with Yara and her mentor, Lebanese musician Tarek Abou-Gouda, and they had lots to say about the past, present and future of her career.

Yara: After taking part in a few episodes of the popular entertainment program Nahr El-Fonoun [River of Arts], directed by the renowned Simon Al-Asmar, I was introduced to Tarek Abou-Gouda. He was impressed by my singing and, more importantly, believed in me. Last summer, he took me to the Melody Music company in Lebanon, where I signed a contract after meeting with seniors Hady Abou-Asly and Habib Rahal.

He [Abou-Gouda] is also the one who gave me my artistic name, Yara, and was the executive producer of my first album. My first video Hob Kebir (Big Love) quickly followed to back it up. The song’s lyrics are by Ilias Nasser and music by Abou-Gouda. This is what I’ve managed, so far, even though I still study and practice singing.

Abou-Gouda: There are many ways. But first is audience acceptance, evident in their cheering at performances. Some singers have terrific voices but lack the necessary charisma to make them stars. Yara believes what she sings. She has genuine feelings when performing and that’s what Simon Al-Asmar first noticed about her.

As for the album, it is a good starting point to find out which musical direction Yara should pursue next. Sales have been promising since the launch of the album and it was received really well by media people and fellow musicians. Requests for the song [on radio stations and satellite channels] are also important proof of success and popularity. The romantic Hob Kebir tune, delivered in an Egyptian accent, was more popular in Egypt than Lebanon, where teens currently prefer dance tunes.

That’s why six of the nine songs on the album were sung in Egyptian dialect and the remaining three in Lebanese.

Y: We had originally agreed on another picture to be used for the cover, the one that’s now inside on the centerfold. The story is that Gamal Marwan, CEO of Melody Music, wanted to push the boundaries a little further by going for a unique look that would make me look like a foreigner. This happened around the time when we left for Sarajevo on September 29 to represent Lebanon in the World Oriental Music Festival. We won with Hob Kebir among fourteen other Oriental countries. But I must say — at least for myself — that to be successful, quality of voice comes before good looks.

Y: International success usually follows massive local success and by local I mean Arab world. Arab music and Arab singers have the potential to become international stars simply because of the wider variety of musical keys delivered through our music.

Y: Nothing has drastically changed just yet I still spend time with my closest friends and my family. Perhaps things might start changing in the coming months.

Y: I keep myself updated with the media. Most articles have been positive except maybe a few critics from Lebanon who insist on urging me to be more energetic on stage. Personally, I think my live shows reflect the music I’m performing because singing is feeling.

I plan to shoot a new music video — in Egyptian dialect — for a song called Alf Zayyak (A Thousand Like You). Lyrics for the song were written by Amir To’ema and music composed by Khaled Ezaby. And Layla Kan’aan will again be the director because we liked her tasteful use of light and color in Etwassa Feyya. I think she also succeeds in bringing out all my hidden capabilities.

Y: I would like to prove myself as an actress in addition to being a singer, but I think it’s still premature for such a move I still have a long way to go.

Y: I will have to complete the promotional tour for my debut album before taking part in any new concerts. The tour kicked off in Lebanon and Egypt and I’ll then be traveling to the rest of the Arab countries. I’m also preparing to record a duet with singer Fadl Shaker who was always among the first people to congratulate me on the release of my singles. My second album will include a song in Khaleeji (Gulf) dialect and hopefully a song composed by Ilias El-Rahbany. et