Emirati singer and songwriter Alira has carved a career in the UAE with his rare musical talent:
he is a countertenor or male soprano who sings in high range with six vocal octaves.
Born and raised in Dubai, Alira developed his love for global music at a young age, with the influences of different musical styles from around the world. His eclectic taste in music includes genres like pop, jazz, blues, ballads, rock, country music and classical music.
“Growing up, I have always been around music, whether it was a Disney movie soundtrack or one of my family members playing a certain tune. Some of my main musical inspirations are Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston who were known for their timeless ballads. Additionally, some of the honorable music influences are Regine Velasquez Alcasid, Andrea Bocelli, Assala Nasri, Laura Pausini and Yolanda Adams,” Alira said.
Alira realized that he wanted to pursue music professionally when he reached his teens. “I have always had a special connection with music, ever since I was a little kid I would run up and stick my ears to the TV, listen carefully and imitate the song being played and it would move something in me. I decided to take music seriously when I was 14 years old,” he said.
At first, he practiced singing in private. “I would usually train in the toilet or when no one would be around,” he said. It was his search for intercultural music that led him to start writing his own songs when he was just a teenager.
His self-titled debut album, Alira, and his first single, Take Flight, is nothing short of transformational and is as novel as his unique singing talent. Alira’s debut single, Take Flight, is available on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music and Anghami. Listen to it here
Truly a global artist, Alira not only sings in his native Arabic language, but he also sings in Indian, Filipino, English, French and much more.
As he begins the next chapter of his musical career, Alira is looking forward to creating music that connects people. “I have connected and touched so many people through my music and they became part of my family, and I am ready to welcome the world with open arms,” he said.
“The values that I stand by and want to share with the world include motivation, acceptance, strength, unity, love, peace, and hope,” he added.
What can fans expect from Alira’s music? “My fans are in for a treat; they should expect the unexpected. I will surely take them through my life’s journey and experience the story that lies behind every song I have written,” Alira said.
