When it comes to their Jam Session format, there are three particular shots that Semaan loves to look back on: “The one between Safar and Fareeq El Atrash is one I keep a very good memory of, as well as the one of Karim Khneisser and Joss Stone. Next to the challenges faced, the organizers also have a load of great memories. From his point of view, the clubbing scene and the ongoing fusion between mixing DJ sets with live acts has changed the model of the "concert." “I can go in depth about how I believe that aspect has changed and how it has even turned concerts into social outings more than anything else.but that would require a dissertation” Semaan adds. That's the major challenge - adjusting to the ever-changing industry and the scenes”. “Looking at it on a macro scale, I can say that the musical landscape has changed all over the world and in Beirut as well. Looking back on almost seven years of work, the crew has had their ups and downs to get to where they are now. Maybe we'll reach there one day, but we're far from it now.” True to the device, it’s good as long as it lasts Semaan believes that “it's nice for people to recognize the job we've done and are still doing, but I think I speak for all of us when I say we just like to try and make things happen.” Fortunately for the founders, they had a lot of supporters on their journey right from the start, and Semaan emphasizes that “the team I work with on the sessions and the concerts are as perseverant as I am. I believe that success stories are things that make a massive impact on a global scale. The down to earth co-founder explains that “I don’t consider it a success story to be honest. Long story short, at some point the music enthusiast decided to quit his job at a telecommunications company in Spain, come back to Beirut and dedicate everything to developing the music scene - thus, Beirut Jam Sessions was born. While he was constantly playing songs of bands that were not really known to most people at the time, prior to the age of streaming and mass access, he came to the believe that “if people in a bar were actually enjoying this type of music, then maybe it would be worth having these bands perform live in Beirut”. His time as a DJ especially shaped the vision he brings to the project. Over the past few years, Beirut Jam Sessions has clearly established itself in the scene of Beirut and all around the region - but this is not where hard-working and strongly ambitious Semaan wants to stop.ĭriven by his love for music as well as his prior experiences as a DJ in Beirut’s bars in his early twenties, the co-founder has no shortage of experience working in music. It has evolved since then, and is being shot in locations around the country.
Taking its inspiration from European channels, notably La Blogotheque, t he original idea of the Beirut Jam Session YouTube channel was to have an international act perform unplugged with a local act in a raw setting in Beirut. One prediction that London-born Semaan holds about the musical development of the scene is “that when Syria is at peace, we will see an incredible change and a huge interest in the regional live music scene.” Therefore not only Middle Eastern artists are promoted to play in Beirut but also Lebanese musicians to tour in the Middle East a dynamic that clearly shapes the scene of the area. Therefore the organizers not only aim to bring artists from all over the world to perform in the city but also want to encourage the musical exchange in the region itself. One of the pillars of the project is the organization of concerts in Beirut itself. Obviously, with time, things have changed a little bit, but the drive to keep doing cool things for the city and beyond is there” Semaan explains.
“The vision was ultimately to offer something different to the alternative music scene in Beirut. When Beirut Jam Sessions was founded back in 2012, Anthony Semaan, Roy Jamhouri, Jessica Naime and Talia Souki had a simple concept in mind: bring international bands to perform in Beirut, have local acts open for them, and in addition have them play for their YouTube channel Jam Sessions.
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