Whether you’re Arab or not, whether you’re on Tiktok or not, it’s inevitable that you’ve heard Jordanian sensation, Issam Alnajjar’s addictively catchy hit song, Hadal Ahbek. There’s something about the 19 year old’s story that makes him aspirational yet relatable to many. Originally Palestinian, Najjar was born in Jordan and started his career in music by recording himself singing covers of his favourite songs and sharing them on social media. Suddenly, overnight, Issam Alnajjar’s name and song were on the tips of everyone’s tongues.
The singer and songwriter, who is represented by Universal Arabic Music, has accumulated over 1.5 billion streams worldwide today, and has dropped his first ever album, BAREE?, which features 14 songs.
During a recent trip to Dubai for a performance in City Centre Mirdif with Cosmotel, we asked Alnajjar a few questions and we couldn’t help but notice his refreshingly humble and down-to-earth demeanor, proving that he hasn’t let fame get to him.
In less than a year, you went from recording covers at home to now accumulating over 1.5 billion streams worldwide. Did you ever think this day would come?
Issam: No one, no one ever did in my team, no one ever expected this much global success, but I’m just grateful. I’m so grateful.
And what does it mean to you when Arab artists, like yourself, go for world domination to this extent?
Issam: It means the world to me, because I’m not only working on my future, I’m working for a lot of artists who just, who are just trying to hit different countries and to achieve their goals. So I’m so proud of them.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Issam: I get asked a lot of the same question, but for me, a year ago, I didn’t think in a million years that I would be standing right here, but you never know what’s going to happen in the future. For me, I just want to be genuinely happy as a person.
