Egyptian singer Shatha has announced the release of a series of singles, including her latest songs "Okay" and "Your Time Now", along with several other tracks like "Successful", "Take It Off", and "Freeze". Shatha confirmed that the era of full albums has ended, noting that producing a complete album has become extremely expensive, which makes singles the most common option in the music scene.
In an interview with "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat", Shatha explained that an album requires at least six songs, with the cost of a single song reaching around 500,000 Egyptian pounds, leading to a total cost of one million pounds when including promotional expenses. She pointed out that the lifespan of a song has become short, necessitating the release of a new song every two months or even monthly to maintain an artist's presence in the market.
Event Details
Shatha discussed the possibility of collaborating in a duet with other singers, confirming that the idea is on the table but requires a successful artist and a song that is different in terms of lyrics and melody. She expressed her preference for collaborating with artists Rami Sabri or Ahmed Saad.
Shatha also addressed her experience in filming music videos, indicating that a music video can be a double-edged sword, as it can harm a song if its concept is not clear to the audience. She mentioned that the most challenging music video she filmed was for "The Independent Woman", where she faced challenges due to the absence of some participants during filming.
Background & Context
Shatha is considered one of the prominent artists in the Egyptian music scene, having gained widespread fame thanks to her diverse songs. With changing audience tastes and the evolution of the music industry, it has become essential for artists to adapt to new trends, such as focusing on singles instead of full albums.
It is noteworthy that many artists in the Arab world have faced similar challenges, as the release of singles has become the prevailing trend, reflecting a shift in how audiences consume music.
Impact & Consequences
Shatha's statements indicate a sense of injustice in the music scene, where voices that do not deserve to exist have risen, while talented voices have been overlooked. She also confirmed that concerts used to represent an outlet for artists, but their absence has negatively impacted their opportunities to appear.
Shatha believes that true success is measured by audience interaction in the streets rather than the number of views on digital platforms, noting that "natural success" is what makes her happy when she sings at concerts and finds the audience singing along to her songs.
Regional Significance
The importance of Shatha's statements lies in their reflection of a reality experienced by many artists in the Arab world, where they are required to adapt to rapid changes in the music industry. The shift from albums to singles also reflects a change in the culture of artistic consumption, necessitating that artists think of new strategies to connect with their audience.
In conclusion, Shatha remains an example of an artist capable of adapting to changes in the music scene, opening the door for her to explore more artistic opportunities in the future.