Ala Ghawas
Ala Ghawas | |
|---|---|
 Ala Ghawas in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alaa Abdulla Ghawas |
| Born | 22 July 1981 |
| Origin | Muharraq, Kingdom of Bahrain |
| Genres | Indie folk, Chamber Pop, Folktronica |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano, acoustic guitar |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | Fatema Fuad |
| Website | www.alaghawas.com |
Ala Ghawas [Arabic: علاء غوّاص] (born 22 July 1981) is a Bahraini independent singer-songwriter, musician & record producer. Most of his discography was released in English.
Career
[edit]2007–2011: Debut trilogy of EPs
[edit]Ghawas recorded and released his debut EP, "Hums", in 2007 during his time in Boston as a Fulbright Scholar. The release was received positively by the Bahraini media upon his return and led to the release of two more critically acclaimed EPs: "Whispers" in 2008 and "Screams" in 2009.[1]
After a series of performances in music festivals following his first three EPs, on 19 November 2009, Ghawas performed his first solo concert at the prestigious Shaikh Ebrahim Center in Muharraq. The concert recordings were later released digitally in 2011 as "Ala Ghawas: Live from Muharraq".[2]
2012–2016: "Armor" and partnership with Likwid
[edit]Starting 2012, Ghawas spent almost two years writing new songs for his debut LP, "Armor", and partnered with the Bahraini band, ‘Likwid’, for the recording of these songs.[3] He also collaborated with Bahraini composer Mohammed Haddad for arranging live strings sections in four songs. "Armor" was released in November 2013 and followed by a series of live performances with Likwid to promote the album in Bahrain, Dubai, and Cairo.[4]
In 2015, Ala Ghawas invited Likwid for a live concert recording and documentary at his home, aptly titled "Ala Ghawas & Likwid: Live from Allston," honoring the Boston neighborhood where he lived in 2006 and 2007. The film was produced and directed by Bahraini filmmaker Saleh Nass.[5]
2017–2019: "Tryst" and "Live from Grace"
[edit]Ghawas' fifth studio album, "Tryst," came out in November 2017, entirely written and produced by him and engineered by Abdulla Jamal. The cover artwork was created in collaboration with Bahraini artist Abbas Almosawi.[6]
In 2019, he filmed and recorded his third live album, "Ala Ghawas: Live from Grace," featuring collaborations with friends and fellow artists such as Ahmed Alqasim, Fawaz Alshaikh, Ali Alqaseer, Abdulla Haji, Isa Najem, Eman Haddad, and Hassan Haddad. This live album included twelve original renditions of songs from his earlier releases.[6][7]
2020–2023: Khaled El Sheikh's influence, "Brouvat Mout" and return to Arabic
[edit]During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghawas engaged his fanbase by rediscovering one of his childhood idols, renowned Bahraini musician Khaled El Sheikh. His admiration culminated in a cover of Khaled's beloved song "A Safe Place for Love." .[8]
On November 24, 2021, Ghawas released his sixth studio album and first-ever Arabic album, "A Death Rehearsal," which is widely regarded as the pinnacle of his musical career. Written by Ghawas and co-produced with Bahraini musician Isa Najem, the album showcases his artistic evolution. "Brouvat Mout" was written by Ala Ghawas and co-produced by Bahraini musician, Isa Najem.[9]
On February 21, 2022, he was invited by the Bahraini Authority for Culture & Antiquities to perform at the prestigious Spring of Culture festival, and this performance was later released as a live album, "Ala Ghawas: Live from Spring of Culture."[10]
2024–Present: Collaborations, "Reimagined" and fatherhood
[edit]In 2024, Ala Ghawas released a highly collaborative EP titled "Reimagined," featuring remixes and renditions of his songs produced entirely by various Bahraini artists, including Isa Najem, Hind Dito, Maxeem Ghawas, The Relocators, Eman Haddad, and electronic producer, COSMO.
That same year, he celebrated a personal milestone with the release of a special single, "In the Embrace of Night," to commemorate the first birthday of his son, Jubran. The single's cover artwork prominently featured Jubran, marking a poignant era for Ghawas as he delved into a more personal dimension in his music, offering a heartfelt perspective on fatherhood.[11]
Discography
[edit]Studio Releases
[edit]- 2007 – Hums EP (English)
- 2008 – Whispers EP (English)
- 2009 – Screams EP (English)
- 2013 – Armor LP (English)
- 2017 – Tryst LP (English)
- 2020 – A Safe Place for Love SINGLE (Arabic)
- 2021 – A Death Rehearsal LP (Arabic)
- 2024 – Reimagined EP (English/Arabic)
- 2024 – In the Embrace of Night SINGLE (Arabic)
Live Releases
[edit]- 2011 – Live from Muharraq LP (English)
- 2015 – Live from Allston LP (English)
- 2019 – Live from Grace LP (English)
- 2023 – Live from Spring of Culture LP (English/Arabic)
References
[edit]- ^ "Ala Ghawas Biography". Black Clouds Productions. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Ala Ghawas (Live from Muharraq)". Ala Ghawas Official Website. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "BAHRAIN: Armor - Ala Ghawas". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Armor: Debut LP by Ala Ghawas". Time Out Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Ala Ghawas & Likwid: Live from Allston". GDN. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ a b "ALA GHAWAS: TOP 10 SONGS". ProjectRevolver. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Ala Ghawas Press Kit". www.alaghawas.com/epk. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "علاء غواص - مكان آمن للحب (تحية لخالد الشيخ وقاسم حدّاد)". Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "علاء غواص يطلق ألبومه الجديد "بروفة موت"". Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Ala Ghawas at Spring of Culture 2023"". Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "علاء غواص - في حضن الليل". Retrieved 9 August 2024.