Ferras
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2012) |
| Ferras | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ferras Alqaisi |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Pop rock, Piano pop |
| Occupations | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, piano |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Big 3 Records, Capitol Records, EMI |
| Website | Official Website Official MySpace |
Ferras Alqaisi, known professionally as Ferras, is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who was signed with EMI as part of Capitol Records and is currently signed with Big 3 Records.
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[edit] Career
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This section reads more like a story than an encyclopedia entry. (June 2012) |
Ferras grew up feeling out of place in a small Illinois town called Gillespie. This feeling was only compounded when, shortly after his parents' divorce, his father took him to the airport, promising him a trip to Disneyland, but instead he actually spirited him away to his homeland of Amman, Jordan, an experience he often jokes about but also says was fairly "traumatic" at the time. While there, Ferras took solace in the small Casio keyboard that his father bought him and began writing his own songs. His mother eventually succeeded in bringing him back to the United States, but his sense of alienation persisted until they moved to Southern California, where Ferras began pursuing a music career in earnest. Ferras was eventually signed to EMI's Capitol Music Group after an audition for the label's chairman Jason Flom while on spring break from the Berklee College of Music. After being signed by Flom, Ferras then flew to New York City to record demo versions of his songs, which would eventually form his debut album.[1]
In April 2008, Ferras released his major record label debut with Aliens & Rainbows via Capitol Records. The album was produced by The Matrix (which has co-written and produced with the likes of Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, Shakira, Heather Nova, Jason Mraz, Korn, Liz Phair, Hilary Duff, Britney Spears and Skye Sweetnam) and Gary Clark (who's worked as a writer and/or producer with artists such as Natalie Imbruglia, Demi Lovato, Liz Phair, Melanie C and Lloyd Cole). The album features the lead single "Hollywood's Not America," which was used as the "exit song" during the semi-final round of the seventh season of the American reality series American Idol before being replaced by a single from Ruben Studdard. The choice gave Ferras a moderate amount of exposure and publicity for the song.[2]
Ferras made his first national television performance on The Today Show.[3]
Ferras co-wrote the song "Aftermath" for Adam Lambert's debut CD For Your Entertainment. In late September 2010, the song was a #1 single in Finland.
Ferras released an independent EP entitled "Interim" on July 2, 2010. The EP, consisting of five original acoustic songs recorded as a live performance in a studio setting, was released as a gift to his fans who have been waiting patiently for new material.
On February 8, 2010 Ferras confirmed he has started recording new music on his Twitter account. He is currently writing and recording his new album with producers Jason Pennock of the writing/production team, The Heavyweights and Sarah Hudson and Sami Diament of Ultraviolet Sound.
In June 2010, Australian singer Michael Paynter released the song "Love the Fall" featuring The Veronicas which was co-written by Ferras and Gary Clark. It became the most added song to Australian radio in the first week of July and was the first top-20 single on the ARIA chart for Paynter. In late September 2010, the single went gold.
In January 2011, German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut performed the song "Good News" (also title song of the album Good News) which was co-written by Ferras and Audra Mae for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 but was not chosen for the German preselection finale.
Four tracks co-written by Ferras are included on the Ricky Martin record "Musica+Alma+Sexo" which was released on February 1, 2011. Two of the songs translated in English, "Liar" and "Too Late Now" are available on the 2-disc deluxe edition, available exclusively through Target.
In 2011, Ferras co-wrote the song "Galaxy" with Richard Vission and was released as a duet by Australian recording artists Jessica Mauboy and Stan Walker. It was released digitally in October 2011 as the fifth single from Mauboy's second studio album. It peaked at number 13 on the Aria Singles Chart and number seven on the Aria Urban Singles Chart. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling over 70,000 digital copies. "Galaxy" also debuted at number 40 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Ferras is scheduled to release his next studio album in the summer of 2012. "C'est La Vie" is the first single to be released from this record.
[edit] Personal life
Ferras currently resides in Los Angeles, California. His mother Gigi and younger sister Katie live in Santa Barbara.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums and EPs
| Album information |
|---|
Aliens & Rainbows
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| EP information |
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Interim - The Time Between
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[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Hollywood's Not America" Produced and engineered by the Matrix and Gary Clark | Aliens & Rainbows |
| 2008 | "Liberation Day" | |
| 2008 | "Rush" - Produced by the Matrix and Gary Clark | |
| 2010 | "Wall Around My Heart" | Interim - The Time Between |
[edit] References
- ^ Capitol Music Group
- ^ Dehnart, Andy (2008-02-10). "Ferras’ "Hollywood’s Not America" selected as American Idol 7’s exit song". Reality Blurred. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
- ^ YouTube: Ferras on The Today Show
[edit] External links
- Official Ferras website
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