HAhmed.com

I didnt even know such a magazine existed. Anyways, heres an article in it on Kareem Salama:

Southern Star: Kareem Salama
Musician Kareem Salama hits the high notes

If only one word could be used to describe Oklahoma singer-songwriter Kareem Salama, it would have to be “dynamic.” His easy Southern drawl, warm laughter and laid-back nature don’t immediately indicate his many accomplishments. Aside from his musical career, Salama happens to be a chemical engineer with a recently earned degree in entertainment and patent law. He’s been a boxing champion in his youth and can easily recite Arabic poetry.

In 2006, Salama decided to record some of the songs he had been writing in his spare time. “I had no intention of doing an album,” says the rising musician, 29, of his Generous Peace debut disc. “It just happened.”

It all began in 2005, when Salama performed live at the Islamic Society of North America conference in Chicago. He performed his hybrid sound of rock, pop and country for a crowd of more than 20,000.

“People seemed to really like it and some of them kept bugging me to put together an album,” Salama recalls. “I hesitated until my Dad gave me the final push. I closed my eyes and prayed about it and began looking for a recording studio. Then I found one that just seemed like a sign.”

The studio in Iowa City was called Inner Light Records and is run by a Greek-American producer named Aristotle. From the moment they began working together in November 2005, Salama knew it was the right fit. In the summer of 2006, he moved from his home in Richmond, Texas, to Iowa to devote himself completely to the album.

“All of the instrumentation and production is done by Aristotle, and I do the melody and lyric writing,” Salama explains.” Their combined efforts turned Salama’s nascent writings into full-blown songs, and 10 months later, Generous Peace was born.

The songs speak of things that are important to Salama—tolerance, virtue, peace and optimism—and in true country style, they each tell a story.

“I pray before and after I write a song,” Salama says of his process. “I choose each word carefully. I try to be very honest and hope that Allah brings this song into people’s hearts.”

His goal is to inspire his listeners into contemplation about life and all of its bigger questions. He hopes to foster a sense of devotion through his music. “People have a hard time with devotion these days—to each other, to God, to anything,” he observes.

For Salama, anything can inspire a song—world events, poetry, books, even his parents. Sometimes the words come first, other times it’s the melody. He eventually strums on his guitar to flesh out the missing pieces and make it complete.

“Songwriting is a very difficult process to describe,” he muses. “It is very esoteric.”

Despite the jumbled process, the messages in his music are crystal-clear, if the e-mails he receives from his growing fan base are any indication.

“I received an e-mail from one lady who told me that my music changed her perspective from ‘all Muslims are terrorists’ to being able to see the beauty of Islam,” he says, a bit incredulous of the power in his own music.

“That is a little intimidating for me and there is a sense of responsibility there. I deal with that overwhelming feeling with prayer and patience. I ask Allah that I be strong enough and good enough to deal with whatever situation I am given.”

While none of his songs is overtly religious and he was raised in a community with very few Muslims, Salama’s faith runs deep. Music is not only entertainment but also a spiritual practice for him, he says. As for those who do not see his talents in that positive light, Salama responds in fluent Arabic, quoting an old Arabic poem that inspired the name of his album, Generous Peace: “‘I am like incense—the more people burn me, the more fragrant I become.’ I’m not interested in trying to convert them to my way of thinking and I don’t let it bother me either.”

He credits his talent to his nurturing parents who encouraged and financially supported his artistic abilities of singing, acting and storytelling from childhood through to his teen years when he began songwriting in earnest.

“When I get a feeling like I should do something, I don’t see any barriers to that and I feel no fear to try. That comes from my mother and father,” he notes.

During the writing, recording and promotion process for his first album, Salama was in law school. He read textbooks on the plane and during layovers between gigs, and used study breaks as rehearsal time.

“When I was in law school or university, I could have said, ‘I’m too busy’ [to do music], but I didn’t and I followed my heart and it led me here,” he says.

In 2006, Salama managed to squeeze in performances in the U.S. and Europe while juggling law school.

“I’m not 80—there is a lot more time in the day than you think,” he shrugs, adding with a laugh, “My Dad used to calculate the hours in a day and remind me how much I could get done if I put my mind to it.”

Salama recently finished recording his second album while balancing many new developments, including a career in law, volunteer work and writing a book of fiction in conjunction with two of his university professors.

At the same time, he’s making a name for himself through his music, performing in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2007, with more shows slated for later this year. His CDs are sold on his website, through various Islamic distributors and at his performances.

Salama learned piano and violin while growing up but currently only sings during performances, though he’s hoping to pick up the guitar for more than just songwriting as he becomes more familiar with the instrument. His warm vocals have been compared to singer John Mayer and his songs showcase a country-pop sound that is at once mainstream and unique.

Aside from all that he has already accomplished, Salama continues to think big. He has dreams of starting a non-profit organization focusing on child education. Musically, he hopes eventually to be a self-sufficient artist.

“My goal is to do my own shows,” he explains. “Rent out the venue, get people to come out and put up the money to do my own thing.”

Being so driven requires energy, reflection and downtime, Salama says. “I go out to the lake and watch the sunset. I will read Qur’an or philosophy. I am very social but I need my alone time,” he notes. “Sometimes, you are your own best company.”

Although he’s encouraged by other young Muslims who want to be musicians, Salama wants them to know there’s lots of hard work behind it all.

“If they feel like the thing they are supposed to do is music, then do that,” he says. “A lot of people want to do it because they think it’s easy and fun, but that’s not true. If you are really interested in it, study it. Take it seriously.”

Salama remembers some good advice he received long ago.

“Like my father used to say,” he recalls, “If you are going to be whatever you are going to be, then be the best at it.”

To check out Kareem Salama’s music for yourself, visit kareemsalama.com.