Music company partners with Reservoir to ink exclusive deal with Hamdan on latest project Bedouin Burger DUBAI: Music company and publisher PopArabia, in conjunction with independent music firm Reservoir, has signed Lebanese indie music icon Zeid Hamdan acquiring his catalog of master recordings and publishing works. PopArabia was founded in 2011 as a portfolio investment of Abu Dhabi’s media free zone twofour54. Reservoir, an international music rights company, was established in 2007 and partnered with PopArabia last year forming a joint venture allowing PopArabia to sign and develop Arabic talent to export around the world. In addition to providing creative support, Reservoir will pitch and market the catalog for synch and marketing opportunities, while amplifying Hamdan’s catalog in Western markets. The deal with Hamdan includes the signing of his latest project, Bedouin Burger, to a recording agreement, with new music set for release this year. Hamdan has been one of the most important musical figures in the Middle East over recent decades. Named one of eight Leading Lights in Lebanese Culture by CNN, his diversity as an artist and producer first started shaping the discourse of Middle Eastern music in 2001. Through his bands, The New Government, and Zeid and The Wings, Hamdan channeled his unique brand of indie-alternative rock, while continuing to push musical boundaries in the region through the Lebanese underground music scene. His diversity as a musician has made him a sought-after producer, working with artists such as Egypt’s Maryam Saleh and Lebanon’s Remie Akl. He has also worked as a film and TV composer, having scored music for movies, television series, documentaries, and global advertising campaigns. In 2019, he produced the music for Lebanese director Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum,” which highlighted the plight of Syrian refugees and was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category that year. “I’m extremely honored and excited to share my passion with a team that understands my vision and shares my ambition. This is the right deal for the right time in my career, with a team that has global reach and has fought for artist rights in this region,” said Hamdan. The formation of Bedouin Burger sees Hamdan team up with Syrian singer Lynn Adib to create a fusion of Bedouin music and contemporary electronica. The two have been working together for several years and released singles, such as their debut “Taht El Wared” (“Beneath the Roses”), blending Arabic poetry with analogue synths, snippets of Egyptian pop, and Hamdan’s trademark indie-pop sound. “It’s such a thrill to be working with someone of Zeid’s immense talent and his pioneering spirit,” said Spek, founder of PopArabia and EVP of international and emerging markets at Reservoir. “I am very proud that he has entrusted PopArabia with his diverse catalog, and we look forward to working with Lynn and Zeid on bringing Bedouin Burger’s awesome music to the world.”