01-05-2025
From Al Ain to the stars: How Syrian singer Ghaliaa Chaker turns doubts into musical triumphs in UAE
There's a warm and winsome charm about Ghaliaa Chaker that draws you to her instantly. After several postponements of our meeting, we finally met, and she marched in with a smile and said without any reservations, 'The stars aligned finally! We have been trying this for a while, haven't we?'
It's like talking to a friend. A friend, who just wanted to share a story, of how she became a singer, a bittersweet journey filled with highs and lows that can be as rough as an unpaved road.
Open mics to original tracks
Ghaliaa, a Syrian singer who grew up in Al Ain, recently marked a major milestone in her musical journey with the release of her debut album, Nafsi El Oula. In her words, she's been 'out and about' on the music scene since childhood—taking part in open mics, cultural performances, and school clubs. But it was at 18, while finishing a degree in mass communication. that she had a reckoning. 'I realised that wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So, I started recording at home. I had a warm, cosy little studio and released my first song at 19, in English.'
With no industry roadmap to follow, Ghaliaa, now recognised as one of the 'Digital stars under 30' turned to research. 'I didn't even know how to release on Spotify or YouTube at the time,' she admits. A conversation with a well-known UAE radio host became a turning point, guiding her through her first steps into the music world. 'I started doing interviews, learning everything on the go.'
Yet, as she says, she just wanted to keep learning and acquiring more knowledge. She took short-term classes at Berklee College of Music, which was transformative for her. 'Those few months changed me completely, from A to Z. Music theory, the business of it all, it gave me structure and showed me the importance of balancing the creative and the commercial sides.'
Powered by passion and family
In an industry like this, she emphasises, you need to be surrounded by a rock-solid support system. And that starts with her parents, who are her biggest cheerleaders. 'My dad's a mechanical engineer who runs a couple of restaurants, super business-oriented. He's always brought me new instruments to try. And my mom? She's huge on world music. They've always pushed me to explore, to take classes, even Turkish music.'
Yet, despite the support, it gets gruelling. The fame, the worry about not keeping up, and always wary of competition. Yet, Ghaliaa, in tandem with her spirited nature is determined to view it all in a transformative light. 'Balancing everything is hard—your job, your personal life, your creative goals. There's a lot of self-doubt. There are days I've wanted to just stay in bed and forget it all. But then the next day rolls in, and I tell myself—I'm a dreamer,' she says with a chuckle.
And she is. There will always be competition, but she is determined to view it in a healthy way. How can she push herself forward, and that's exactly where she chooses to focus.
Inspired by legends, driven by emotion
She reflects deeply on themes that shape her art. 'This year is about being authentic. I've been shy about promoting my work—making it all look shiny and polished, because you need to package it well and sell it properly. That part's hard. But behind closed doors, I've just been recording, experimenting.'
Regarding the various influences that shape her music, she says, 'I love Arab legends, but also Adele. I'm drawn to ballads and anything that explores belonging and vulnerability. I love that feeling when a crowd resonates with a song like they've all lived the same story.'
