Bashar Murad

Bashar Murad (; born 7 February 1993) is a Palestinian singer based in East Jerusalem. His music addresses societal norms and issues of gender equality in the Middle East. He is best known for his collaboration with Icelandic techno-punk band Hatari on the song "Klefi / Samed", which was released shortly after Hatari raised banners featuring the Palestinian flag at the final of Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv. Murad released his debut EP Maskhara in June 2021.

Early life Murad was born in East Jerusalem in 1993, to parents Said Murad and Fadia Daibes. Murad's father, Said, is the founder of the Palestinian musical group Sabreen, the first Palestinian group of its kind. Sabreen was founded in 1980, and Murad was born during the height of their career.

Upon graduating from the Jerusalem American School, Murad pursued a bachelor's degree at Bridgewater College, Virginia, United States. He studied at Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Israel for a year, and was the first Palestinian from the West Bank to study there.

The majority of his songs are produced by himself in the local record studios of Sabreen Association for Artistic Development. The song is about the feeling of being different and not fitting in. Three years later, he released his second Arabic-language EP, Nafas. He competed with the song "Vestrið villt" / "Wild West", qualifying for the final and ultimately coming second. Amid the Gaza war and calls for Israel to be excluded from the contest, Murad's participation was the subject of multiple controversies, both with accusations that Icelandic broadcaster RÚV was politicising the event as well as allegations that he was the victim of racism. Murad later performed at the "Falastinvision" event, which was organised in Malmö, the host city of Eurovision 2024, as an alternative to the Eurovision final on 11 May in protest against Israel's participation.

Personal life Murad currently resides in Paris.

Discography

Extended plays

Maskhara (2021) Maskhara: The Remixes (2022) Nafas (2024)

Singles As lead artist

"Hallelujah", 2015 "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" ft. Muhammad Mughrabi, 2015 "The Door", 2015 "More Like You", November 2016 "Voices", April 2017 "Ilkul 3am bitjawaz" (Everyone's Getting Married), January 2018 "Shillet hamal" (Bunch of Bums), July 2018 "Ma bitghayirni" (You Can't Change Me), September 2018 "Ana zalameh" (I'm a Man), November 2018 "Maskhara" (Mockery), December 2020 "Antenne" ft. Tamer Nafar, June 2021 "Intifada on the Dance Floor", November 2021 "Xmas Aswad", December 2022 "Ilel majnoon", March 2023 "Ya Lel", June 2023 "Mawtini", November 2023 "Nafas", January 2024 "Vestrið villt" / "Wild West", February 2024

As featured artist "Klefi / Samed" by Hatari, June 2019