Arleb by Nabad interviews Anthony Semaan, Artist Marketing Manager (Levant & Egypt) at Deezer; Music, Media and Marketing consultant & entrepreneur; and Co-Founder of Beirut Jam Sessions.

Arleb by Nabad – Tell us about Beirut Jam Sessions and your passion for music.

Anthony Semaan – Beirut Jam Sessions is a platform that promotes music via concerts and sessions. We’ve been doing this since 2012 and, despite all the challenges we’ve faced down the years, we’ve kept going. Of course the platform has evolved and changed with time, but the core has always been to promote music and artists from Beirut or abroad. Personally it’s been a crazy journey that has taught me so much and thankfully I’m in a good place today with Beirut Jam Sessions returning and very grateful for my full-time job with Deezer as Artist Marketing Manager for Levant & Egypt. 

Arleb by Nabad – What is, according to you, the impact of the Beirut blast, the socio-economic crisis, and the pandemic crisis in Lebanon on local arts and culture, and specifically on the music industry?

Anthony Semaan – Everyone and everything has been impacted. What we once knew as normality just a couple of years ago seems like a century ago. I don’t think the country will be considered as a cultural hub as it was once perceived to be for quite some time. There’s a new reality and we have to accept it.

The music industry and scene have been massively impacted here and everywhere because of the pandemic. Concerts are almost non-existent everywhere in the world, but over here the blast and economic crisis have made it incredibly hard for artists trying to make a living and for promoters and venues who were dependent entirely on this. We’ll never truly know the impact because the deterring situation is still ongoing. So even though efforts are being made, we have to assume that it can always get worse.  

Arleb by Nabad – How do you think Lebanese musicians and performers will or should face this multiform crisis, and what are the new challenges that are ahead of them?

Anthony Semaan – There’s no right or wrong way to face this. It’s very important that artists do what they feel is right for them and not what is expected of them. Some artists will choose to wait until things return to “normal” before getting active again. Others will adjust to the reality of trying new things that are currently working elsewhere around the world. Whatever they decide to do, it’s up to us – platforms and those who work in the industry – to show them support and to be there for them if needed. We wouldn’t even be doing what we do if it weren’t for them. 

Arleb by Nabad – What are, according to you, the mid-term and long-term solutions to this crisis? 

Anthony Semaan – If I knew, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Haha! The problems are so multi-layered that it’s impossible for me, or anyone, to provide sustainable solutions. In my opinion, all we can do is try different things and adapt to the current context.  

Arleb by Nabad – What kind of support according to you is needed for musicians and performers, and for creative enterprises such as BJS to sustain and pursue their work in Lebanon?

Anthony Semaan – For artists, it is platforms that allow them to work and earn money to do so. When the pandemic started, free online concerts were buzzing and it was rightfully a good thing to do. Under Beirut Jam Sessions, we did over 160 of them and it went pretty well. But soon enough it was obvious that artists needed a way to make money. So any type of initiative that allows artists to use their creative talents and earn money is a necessity at this point. Funding and support programs are also great, not necessarily sustainable, but still important nevertheless. The same applies for all platforms, not only artists. 

Arleb by Nabad – What specific roles do arts and culture play in cultural resistance/resilience in Lebanon? And what are the powers of music in times of uncertainty?

Anthony Semaan – Music will always be there. For many, it’s an escape, for some it’s entertainment. Whatever purpose it serves, it will always be an important part of any society. Though I’m not a fan of the terms resistance or resilience, I believe that arts and culture provide the tools of creativity and imagination for a society, both for creators and those who simply admire it. 

Arleb by Nabad – What is your outlook for the future? Where do you think we are heading regarding developments in art, politics, and cultural resistance/resilience?

Anthony Semaan – I have personal plans and goals that I have set for myself which I hope to achieve and I can’t speak on behalf of anyone else. Everyone’s context and story is different. Arts, politics, culture, economics… Everyone is facing a different challenge in all of these segments of society. So my outlook, which is only mine, is that as long as I am here in Beirut, I am always going to try and do things for artists, for my colleagues, for my city and for myself. Whether they’re good or bad is up for debate, but I will always keep doing things.

Arleb by Nabad – Finally, what is your message to the emerging and marginalized musicians and performers in Lebanon?

Anthony Semaan – They are more than just artists and they have more power than they imagine. I’d tell them not to overthink things and just execute on whatever they feel they need to do to make themselves happy. What we’re going through is not easy for anyone, but it won’t last forever. We all have to adapt and artists have the power to do that better than anyone else.

* Watch TINY GIGS excerpts of concerts on Beirut Jam Sessions YouTube Channel, organized by BJS and with the support of Nabad.