Growing up in a strict upbringing, the role of a woman was simply to marry and have children. She could not do anything else because her fate was basically decided. I knew I that was different and could not live my life like that.
My parents didn’t understand and thought that I was crazy. I had an even bigger problem telling my parents that I enjoyed singing and wanted to pursue a career in it! I experimented in different careers in my 28 years, following paths that my parents liked but I hated. I always tried to hide my desire to pursue a career in music. I earned a Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and pursued a career as a reporter. After a few internships with Fox and Channel 7 in Chicago, my interest in broadcasting quickly died. My heart was not in broadcasting, and I was miserable...

My heart has always brought me back to my first love... my passion for music. Music was always of second nature to me, something in my genes that I have lived and breathed every day. My father has been an international performer for the last 40 years. Singing was his way of life, and living with it, became a way of life for our family as well. From the time I was five years old I have been exposed to music from all over the world. My father's focus and style in Arabic music was known as “Tarab”, a form of music that combines both the classical opera and jazz sounds. Seeing my father perform is somewhat magical because he is able to put happiness into the hearts of those listening, even if it is for one brief moment. There is no greater power one can have over another... it is almost mesmerizing. I hope he would pass that style and those vocal chords onto me.

I do believe that you're born with a voice, you either have it or you don’t. Your voice is the base, but understanding the structure of the music, and style is just as important. I learned to sing in Arabic, my father’s style. I enjoyed the unique exotic flavour, and would often combine it with modern day pop and jazz music to create a different sound. This is where my vocal coach Mark enters. He knows what works and what doesn’t. He even helps me compose my own music.

In 2003 I released my first CD - About Me! It is a reflection of variations in musical approach. I sing tunes from 1940’s Billie Holiday classics, to pop rock ballads, some of which I wrote myself. This project was a big step for me and naturally brought about nervousness, fear, and certain phobias such as finding out how my family would react. Of course there was a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I gave into that voice and followed my dream. I wasn’t thrown into the piles of others before me who said things like: I should have, I would have, I could have. I actually did it! Fortunately everything was fine with my family and they were actually happy someone had followed in my father's footsteps. My only regret now was waiting so long -- I wish I had started when I was 18 or 19, rather than 27 -- but as they say, better late than never!!

Mary Fakhoury.