Aziz Maraka (Arabic: عزيز مرقة; born 22 June 1983), is a Jordanian composer, singer, performer, and producer. Maraka created a music style called "Razz", an Arabic Rock-Jazz fusion that garnered regional attention. He also released materials as Azis Maraka & Razz, including the album ''Master Copy''.
Early life
Maraka was born in
Tunisia
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, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
to a
Jordanian father and a
Lebanese mother. With the support of his parents, Aziz began performing keyboard for his school band. At the age of 12, he won a nationwide competition for original composition on keyboard. Moving to
Jordan
Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
, after attending the Music School in
Amman, he received a scholarship for PLUS Program to study in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. His first hit song, "Bent El Nas" was written as part of his senior graduation project, along with several other songs from his self-titled debut album. This album was later distributed by the Lebanese record label "Ekaa" in 2008.
Career
Aziz released his first album ''Master Copy'' in 2008. The song "Bint Al Nas" (Arabic: بنت الناس) (girl of the people in
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
) was the first of his songs to become known throughout the Arabic pop-music culture.
His next official radio release was in 2009, "Najeh", (Arabic: ناجح meaning Successful) for the senior class after passing their final exams. The song became hugely popular for teenagers across the region.
"Ma Baqool Assef" (Arabic: ما بقول أسف meaning I don't say sorry) debuted on radios in 2010.
Maraka has performed with a new style of music, which he termed as "Razz", an Arabic
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
-Rock fusion. Maraka traveled around the world in several
festivals
A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival c ...
and
events
Event may refer to:
Gatherings of people
* Ceremony, an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion
* Convention (meeting), a gathering of individuals engaged in some common interest
* Event management, the organization of ev ...
, including a
Red Bull soundclash event with a local alternative rock band;
JadaL.
The concert reportedly gathered a 4,000 people audience.
In 2011, Aziz created his company "Maestro Entertainment" as a music and event production business. In October 2011, Maestro Entertainment launched "BAB 1" (Bands Across Borders) as the first annual concert and comedy platform in Jordan. It featured local popular comedian Mohammed Lahham and singers
Farah Siraj, Yazan Haifawi, and
Alaa Wardi.
The latest BAB Music Festival was in August 2016 and featured a lineup of alternative and
hip hop artists, including Adonis, DJ Sotosura, Muqata’a, Satti, El Far3i, Amer Al Taher,
El Morabba3, Dakn, Edd Abbas, and Yazan Haifawi.
Discography
Albums
*2008: ''Master Copy (Aziz Maraka & Razz)
*2010: ''Leka@Eka3'' (in Arabic لقاءات إيقاع) (Aziz Maraka & Razz, Ressala,
Mashrou3 Leila)
Videography
* 2014 – Sme3tek – Directed by David Frost
* 2014 – Meen Gallak – Directed by David Frost
* 2014 – Time – Directed by David Frost
* 2015 – Beat it (
Cover) – Directed by David Frost
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maraka, Aziz
1983 births
Living people
Jordanian composers
Jordanian male singers