Raef (singer)
| Raef | |
|---|---|
|
Raef performing in Jakarta, Indonesia on live television in May 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Native name | رائف حجاج |
| Birth name | Raef Haggag |
| Born |
August 8, 1982 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Origin | United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Awakening |
| Website |
www |
Raef Haggag (Arabic: رائف حجاج ; born August 8, 1982) is an Egyptian American singer from Washington D.C. He is a prominent American-Muslim songwriter whose songs are for Muslims and faith-based communities around the world. He released his first album The Path produced by Awakening Records in June 2014.[1]
Beginnings
Raef was born in Washington DC and raised in Maryland[2] to parents who immigrated from Egypt to attend graduate school. From a young age, he often went fishing, kayaking, and camping with family and friends. Growing up, music had always been an important part of his life. Raef studied Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated in 2005.[3] During college he sang tenor in a comedic a cappella group on campus. After graduating, Raef worked as a software engineer, developing security software for the New York Stock Exchange. Shortly afterwards, Raef abruptly quit his computer programming job to work as full-time high school teacher from 2005-2013. He said: "I decided to switch careers from a software eng. to a high school teacher because I wanted to help others in a more direct way (and because it was pretty boring sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day)".[4] Raef taught computer programming in Montgomery County Public Schools and was awarded "CS Teacher of the Year"[5] for implementing creative lesson plans that included songs on how to program in C++ and Java.[6]
Music career
Teaching gave Raef more time to focus on songwriting, often performing at local coffee shops and busking at metro stations. He was introduced to the national stage after his trio rock band "Great Seneca" toured the United States of America as part of the "Voices for Change" initiative. Raef also joined the "Poetic Vision Tour"; a band of traveling musicians and poets catering to the American Muslim community.[7] Raef did several Islamic covers of popular main-stream songs, attracting young listeners wanting a modern take on religious music[8]
Raef signed with Awakening Records and released his debut album The Path in 2014.[9]
Success in Indonesia
Since the release of his debut album The Path, Raef has made several trips to Indonesia to promote his music and perform at live concerts. Appearing on Indonesian national television and invited by mayor Ridwan Kamil to perform at the Bandung Conference brought Raef and his music to millions of Indonesians. Raef was also the star guest on 30 episodes of The Journey of a Backpacker, a Ramadan TV series that aired on Kompas TV across Indonesia and TV Alhijrah in Malaysia. In August 2015, Raef was awarded the "Platinum Award" for record sales in Indonesia.[10]
Activities
"We Are Home" - Music Video Project
Raef's song "Home" on his debut album sends a bold message about the American Muslim Identity and the strong feelings of belonging to a country that holds promise and hope for the future. Home nods to American culture, ethos, history, and echoes the The Star-Spangled Banner of the land of the free and the brave - all denoting a sense of nostalgia and pride.[11]
Using Detroit-based crowdfunding platform LaunchGood, over $22,000 via online donations were raised to fund the Music Video for "Home", directed by Los-Angeles based director, Lena Khan. The video shows Raef walking through American History observing contributions made by various immigrants to the United States.[12] The video also features contributions made by Native Americans.[13]
On social media, the hashtag #WeAreHome has been used largely in part as a response to rising Islamophobia and xenophobia in the United States and Europe.
Philanthropy
- On 14 April 2012, Raef took part in "Send a Little Hope" charity concert organized by Awakening Records and Save an Orphan organization at London's Hammersmith Apollo with Hamza Namira, Irfan Makki, Maher Zain and Mesut Kurtis to raise awareness and collect donations.[14] Over £175,000 were pledged on the night.[15]
- Raef took part in USA tour "Songs for Children" with Kareem Salama and Alman Nusrat organized by Islamic Relief USA to raise money and awareness for children around the world.[16]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Track list |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Path
|
|
Videography
- 2011: "It's Jumuah [Friday] (Rebecca Black Cover)"
- 2011: "Redemption Song (Bob Marley Cover)"
- 2012: "Your Mercy (Maroon 5 Cover)"
- 2012: "Rabbee I'm Yours (Jason Mraz Cover)"
- 2012: "With You (Chris Brown Cover)"
- 2012: "Man In The Mirror (Michael Jackson Cover)"
- 2014: "So Real" (Raef feat. Maher Zain)
- 2014: "You Are The One Cartoon Video"
- 2015: "You Are The One Video"
- 2015: "Home" #WeAreHome video
References
- ↑ "Raef album release". Facebook. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ↑ "An artistic night with Hamza Namira and Raef (Arabic)". YouTube. alhiwarchannel. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "About Raef". Facebook. Raef official facebook page.
- ↑ Onbeing.org: One Voice: Raef Haggag
- ↑ "Raef Haggag Computer Science Teacher in Northwest High School". ratemyteachers. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "The Voice of K–12 Computer Science Education and its Educators" (PDF) 8 (3). July 2012: 6. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "News, Prophet Muhammad: His Spiritual Life & Path -An inspiring evening of song, poetry, & commentary.". Princeton University. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "Halal Music Inspires World Muslim Youth". OnIslam.net. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ Shahid, Omar (13 April 2012). "Islamic singers rewrite western hits to find new audiences for 'faith-inspired' songs". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ Bintang.com: Susul Maher Zain, Raef Haggag Raih Platinum Award di Indonesia (in Indonesian)
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzs9DhbNHCs
- ↑ ShareAmerica: He sings about an America that is home to immigrants
- ↑ https://www.launchgood.com/project/we_are_home
- ↑ Shahid, Omar (10 April 2012). "The Concert of the Year". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "Over £175,000 pledged on the night at our 'Send A Little Hope' charity concert!". saveanorphan.org. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "The @IslamicRelief #SongsForChildren tour". Twitter. Raef official account. Retrieved 25 August 2014.