Wissam Hilal: “I would love to collaborate with the Greek artist Helena Paparizou”
«I follow her on Instagram, and I love her songs. She is amazing»
During my trip in Dubai, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Syrian Singer and Songwriter Wissam Hilal. Our conversation was focused on his life, career and all the challenges that went throughout his journey quest to make it to the top.
A: Hello and thank you so much for doing this interview today.
W: It is a pleasure to have this conversation with you.
A: Basically, you became known from your hit "Yalla Yalla". Earlier, you have visited Egypt. What were you doing there? Hope one day to visit Cyprus too.
W: Firstly, I am glad to be doing this interview with you and I am also excited to talk with you. You are from Cyprus, and I don't know why I haven't visited your island yet. I must do it soon. All my friends who have studied there, told me how beautiful it is.
A: So, when did you start feeling that this industry is the right one for you?
W: To be honest, it started when I was 14 years old, when I started hearing Enrique Iglesias and all the pop songs that were popular at that period. So, I fell in love with the industry and that's how it started from there.
A: What did you do to gain fame?
W: Look, I just focus on producing good music and touching the life of others. I think that's how the public will start receiving you right and liking you.
A: You are travelling a lot, mostly for work. Which dangerous place you would like to visit but it is too dangerous to go there?
W: I must admit that I am not adventurous and don’t like to experiment with new things. If it is dangerous, then keep me away from it. I don’t like doing anything extreme. I was even scared of going Jet-ski. I have a trauma for water. The scariest thing I have done is to visit places to do skydive for a TV commercial for hair. Products. I had to jump twice in an hour, because they have messed the first shooting and so I had to do it again. However, I did not overcome my fear.
A: What is your next project?
W: I was in Egypt for one month and went to Los Angeles for one month and a half to shoot a music video in the city of Angels, and more specifically in Hollywood. Currently, I am finishing my album now which is kind of oriental house music. It is a nice mix.
A: Which artist would you like to collaborate with, or you are starstruck to have a song with?
W: There are a lot of artists that I would like to, but I would love to collaborate with the Greek artist Helena Paparizou. I follow her on Instagram, and I love her songs. She is amazing. When she released the song “My no1” I was in Syria that time and it was inspirational. If we ever collaborate, we will bring together two cultures. I must tell you about an experience that I had with an A-list star. In Hollywood, everybody is nice. I was in California, and I was going inside a store, and accidentally I crashed with one of the biggest singers in the world – I don’t want to mention the name- and both of us fell in the ground. I was like “oh…” and then he was like “I am sorry”.
A: I have one last question for you. What is on your bucket list?
W: I want to go to Iceland and go back to Greece. I was there this summer. Also, I want to visit Africa. I have a collaboration with UNICEF and basically a lot of famous people are in this foundation and so a lot of times we ask our followers to donate and use our platform. I just wish people to donate, even $1.
A: Well, thank you so much for this conversation. I had a blast. You are amazing.
W: Thank you! you are lovely, Anna and I hope to come to Cyprus very soon!
*Interview participants:
A: Anna Krith
W: Wissam Hilal
