Palestinian-American singer-songwriter and filmmaker Zaher Saleh has blended every crevice of his multi-faceted talent to create brand new single, “La7ali (Alone)”, alongside a harrowing music video. Releasing today, the single is both a touching and relatable exploration of the difficulty of navigating relationships when each person is at a different stage of life. Reflecting this quite literally, the artist finds himself standing alone on a kayak in the middle of a lake in Kiev. As glittering soft waves open the visual, Zaher begins singing in Arabic while shot through a black and white lens. Though the lyrics begin in another language, Zaher’s emotive delivery is more than enough to narrate the story, which breaks into a triumphant melody. Featuring dramatic fast-paced scenes in which his kayak almost capsizes, the footage remains calm and slowed down — a representation of Saleh’s masterful pace and flow. By the close of the visual, Zaher Saleh is still again, and this time is sitting in the boat. He has accepted his lack of agency in what he cannot control, and finally lets himself be swept into whatever will come his way.
“A few years ago, I started dating this remarkable man. At the time, he wasn’t out to his parents, and neither was I. But as our love evolved, I felt ready to share my truth with my parents but he wasn’t in the same place. A little after a year, our relationship ended and he opened up about his sexuality to his parents, and I was beyond proud and happy for him. We both felt safe because we tried to be patient, compassionate, and loving to one another. Sometimes, we might be moving at a different pace, bringing so much fear and uncertainty. But I believe that all we can do is be true to ourselves and have no expectations of others. Understanding the unique journey of our loved ones and having a compassionate approach will most probably lead to beautiful realizations and deeper connections. We are only responsible for our own conscious choices.”
Currently residing in New York City, Zaher continues to utilise his craft to unite the borders of cultural and religious differences, and continues to advocate for his LGBTQ+ community.
To stream his latest single and music video, head below…
