Songs of Love and War: Music Inspired by a War-Struck Lebanon
‘Antelias With Songs of Love and War’ is the name of the amazing album that was recently released by the mesmerizing artist Maya Marie Hawie (AKA New Pharaohs). Although this is her debut album, it received a lot of recognition and praise and her dreamy yet sad music led many of her listeners to ask if she’s the Lebanese version of Lana Del Rey. Maya is a British/Lebanese singer based in London, and her debut album talks about the memories of the war she survived in Lebanon.
“Life in Lebanon was happy and exciting. However, the beginnings of war began to creep in. I remember vividly the sound of shelling and we began to sleep on mattresses in the corridors of our apartment,” she said in an interview with the961. “The thing with war is that you never know when or if it’s going to fully engulf you and, when it does start, you have no idea if it will last for 6 months or 10 years,” she added.
Before starting New Pharaohs, Maria started a band called Sohodolls and was signed by Alan McGee’s label. They toured many countries, including Europe, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and the US. Their music was featured on everything from Gossip Girls, Californication and Nip/Tuck, to Vampire Diaries and The Vow.
