# Sleiman Damien

Sleiman Damien (Arabic: سليمان دميان) is a Lebanese musician, music producer, and DJ specializing in modern Arab pop fusion. Many of his musical production collaborations topped Lebanese and regional Arab charts.

## Early life and education

Damien attended the Collège des Sœurs des Saints Cœurs in Kfarhbab-Ghazir. During his early career, he set up a small recording studio at home, and experimented with various musical genres.

## Work

Damien rose to prominence in 2014 through his collaboration with Lebanese singer Carole Samaha. The hit song “Sahranin” showcased Sleiman's music arrangement style that combines Arabic pop music with upbeat EDM.
In 2015, Damien associated with Lebanese Techno artist and producer Tarek Majdalani; they started the deep house duo "Three Machines". Damien and Majdalani formed a long term working relationship, collaborating on several high-profile projects for veteran mainstream Arab music stars. In 2016 Lebanese singer Assi El Hellani met Damien and Majdalani, he was impressed with their work, and they landed their first music production collaboration. Their first collaboration, "Aheb El Leil", topped the Lebanese music charts. Damien and Majdalani also arranged songs for both Al-Waleed and Maritta Hellani. During a 2017 television interview, Majdalani who comes from a Techno music background, attributed his introduction to Arabic Pop music production to Damien.
In April 2016, Damien was a founding member, together with renowned Lebanese pianist Michel Fadel, of Quartet Music, an event management and entertainment collaborative that highlights young musical talent. Fadel and Damien collaborated again, together with long-term partner Tarek Majdalani, on light and music spectacle for the Jounieh International Festival complete with a philharmonic orchestra.
Damien works both with startup artists and well-established Arab stars, including George Wassouf, Walid Toufic, Haifa Wehbe, and Ragheb Alama. He recognized the musical talent of Lebanese young artist Zef, whom he spotted when the latter busked in the streets of Byblos in the early 2010s. In 2019, 7 years after their initial meeting, Damien produced all of Zef's mellow alternative pop tracks. Damien also regularly produces full albums and tracks for indie bands and international artists such as Anthony Touma, and Adonis who describe him as a fifth band member.
Damien, and songwriter and composer Nabil Khoury approached Abeer Nehme with a song through Universal Music MENA. The resulting collaboration, "Bala Ma Nhess", was an instant success, garnering millions of YouTube views shortly after its release in March 2022. "Bala Ma Nhess" which was Damien and Nehme's first collaboration, topped the Lebanese music charts. Nehme announced future collaboration with Damien, and in an An-Nahar interview, credited his mixing and production skills as key factors in the song's success. Damien and Nassif Zeytoun’2 2022 "Bel Ahlam" was another instant hit, topping the regional charts days after its release.

## Style

Damien's Arab fusion music features elements from various music styles, including rock and EDM. Unlike traditional Arab music production which prioritizes lyrics, Damien focused on integrating arrangement and music production at the starting phase of each project. He believes that more independent artists will have a wider reach with the current trend of music consumption democratization. He also believes that eclecticism in his musical collaborations will make various styles palatable to a more diverse range of audiences, bridging the gap between established artists and the Arab indie scene. In a 2023 interview, he cited Zef & Stephanie Atala’s "El Bekle" as an example of new independent talent that broke into the Middle Eastern music charts and competed with conventional records from industry heavyweights. He also stated that his goal is to help niche songs crossover to the mainstream, and Arabic music to reach the global audience by collaborating with more regional and international artists.

## Personal life

Damien is open about his struggles with anxiety, which he believes is a common issue among industry professionals and musicians in the Arab region.

## Selected works

| Artist | Single / Album | Label | Role | Year |
| Abeer Nehme | "Bala Ma Nhess" | Universal Music MENA | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| Adonis | "12 Saa (Full album)" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Adonis | "Thoqb Aswad" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2020 |
| Adonis | "Aadaa (Full album)" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Almena | GTA | Universal Music MENA | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani) | 2019 |
| Anthony Touma | Ups and Downs (Full Album) | Universal Music MENA | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), Mixer | 2018 |
| Anthony Touma | "A Nous" ft. Lea Makhoul | Universal Music MENA | Vocal mixer | 2020 |
| Al Walid El Hellani | "Amyes'alou" | AMD Production | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Al Walid El Hellani | "Mesh Wadeh" | AMD Production | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| Assi El Hallani | "Aheb El Leil" | LifeStylez Studios | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani) | 2016 |
| Assi El Hallani | "Habib el Alb" "Kint el ward" "Wa3ed Albi" | Rotana Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani) | 2017 |
| Assi El Hallani | "Hob Jnoun" | Rotana Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2018 |
| Assi El Hallani | "Shu Bkhaf Aleiky" | Rotana Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2019 |
| Assi El Hallani | "Edhaki" | Rotana Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2019 |
| Assi El Hallani | "Maghroum Eh Maghroum" "Khalas Byekfi" | Rotana Music | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Aziz Maraka and Adonis band | "Nater" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Aziza | "Salat ez-Zein" | Star System | Producer | 2017 |
| Aziza | Mn Hadid | Independent | Executive producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Aziza | Marra Kaman | Digital Sound | Mixer | 2022 |
| Carmen Soliman | "Habibi Mosh Habibi" Remix | Platinum Records FZLLC. | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani) | 2014 |
| Carole Samaha | "Sahranine" | Independent | Producer | 2014 |
| Cyrine Abdelnour | "Leila" | Anghami | Mixer | 2020 |
| Dana Hourani | "Ella Enta" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Dana Hourani | "Zuruni" | Independent | Mixer | 2019 |
| Dana Hourani | "Lahza" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Dana Hourani | Enti Ana | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2020 |
| Dana Hourani | "Erjaa Shoufak" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Dana Hourani | "Yay" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Dana Hourani | "Bla'i Hali" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| George Wassouf | "Sahi el Leil" | Anghami | Producer | 2020 |
| Ghenwa Nemnom | "Canon concert live from Niha" | Cafe de Anatolia | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Haifa Wehbe | "Jann El Sabi" | CHBK | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2018 |
| Hoss | Etsha2leb | Anghami | Mixer | 2018 |
| Jad Shwery | "Mesh Ay Kalam" | Wittycan | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Jad Shwery and Hala el Turk | "Layali El Sayf" | Platinum Records FZLLC. | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Joe Ashkar | "Masari Min Wein" | Watary | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Joe Ashkar | "Bde'ello" | Anghami | Mixer (with Tarek Majdalani) | 2019 |
| Joe Ashkar | "Albi Daala" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| K.A.R.L. | WavesOneMars (Full Album) | Burkan Records | Executive producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Kazem Chamas | "Halala" | Watary | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Lola Jaffan | "Fi Kel Helou Lolah" | Wittycan | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Lola Jaffan | "Law Amet El Iyama" | Wittycan | Producer, mixer | 2020 |
| Manel Mallat | "Baddna Nbih" | Watary | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2020 |
| Maritta Hallani | "Shtaatellak" | Rotana Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani) | 2017 |
| Maritta Hallani | "Akher Marra" "Ana" "Eli W Melki" "Manno Maa'ad" "Nasini" "Tla'ayna" | AMD Production | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2018 |
| Maritta Hallani | "Walaw" | AMD Production | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| Nabil Khoury | "Kifak" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Nabil Khoury | "Abel B Waet" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2020 |
| Nassif Zeytoun | "Bel Ahlam” | Watary | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| Rabih Gemayel | "Faw' el Adi" | Two Media Group | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani), mixer | 2017 |
| Ragheb Alama | Anghami Session | Anghami, Backstage Production | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Raja Otaqui | "Mafi Aman" | Quartertone | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| Reem El Sharif | "Ana Fi Intizarak" | Anghami | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Ré Mi Bandali | "Trekni ehki" | Independent | Mixer | 2019 |
| Rima Yussef | "Ana Min" | Universal Music MENA | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Rima Yussef | "Ehsasi Fik" | Universal Music MENA | Mixer | 2021 |
| Rima Yussef | "Hekyo" | Universal Music MENA | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Rima Yussef | "Marrat" | Universal Music MENA | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Rima Yussef | "Ma tiida" | Universal Music MENA | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Rizan Said | Saz û Dilan | Akuphone | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| The5 | El Donia Shabab | Sony Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani & Michel Fadel) | 2015 |
| The5 | Hanini | Sony Music | Producer (with Tarek Majdalani & Michel Fadel) | 2015 |
| Walid Toufic ft. Jad Shwery | "Dr. Fel Hob" | Walid Toufic | Producer, mixer | 2022 |
| Wissam El Amir | "Dommini" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2018 |
| Yazan Kamel | "Ma Tfell" | Wittycan | Mixer | 2022 |
| Yazan Kamel | "Walhan" | Wittycan | Producer, mixer | 2021 |
| Zef | "Shi Nhar" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2019 |
| Zef | "Sofon el Bahara" | Independent | Producer, mixer | 2020 |
| Zef | "Leish Baddi Eb'a" "Shem Wroud" | Watary | Producer, mixer | 2021 |

## Citations

* 1 2 3 Khabar Ajel 2014.
* ↑ Sleiman Damien official website 2022.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2017c.
* ↑ Three Machines 2015.
* ↑ Damien & Majdalani 2017, 11:45.
* 1 2 3 Damien & Majdalani 2017.
* ↑ Traxsource 2016.
* ↑ Majdalani 2022.
* ↑ Damien & Majdalani 2017, 6:55.
* ↑ Born Interactive 2016.
* ↑ Abdel Radi 2016.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2016a.
* ↑ Nawaret editorial 2021.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2021d.
* ↑ al-Quds 2021.
* 1 2 Jfra News 2018.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2021b.
* ↑ Damien & Majdalani 2017, 8:00.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2016b.
* ↑ An-Nahar editorial 2016a.
* ↑ Damien & Majdalani 2017, 8:45.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2021a.
* ↑ Ali 2020.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Atallah 2023.
* 1 2 Said 2020.
* 1 2 Maan 2018.
* ↑ Grundey 2021.
* 1 2 Hassan 2022.
* 1 2 3 Al-Binaa 2022.
* ↑ Born Interactive 2022.
* ↑ Merheb 2021a.
* ↑ Zreik 2022.
* ↑ Sada el-Balad 2022.
* ↑ An-Nahar editorial 2022b.
* ↑ An-Nahar editorial 2022a.
* ↑ El-fann editorial 2022.
* ↑ Damien & Majdalani 2017, 8:31.
* ↑ al-Quds 2022.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2019a.
* ↑ El-Fann editorial 2020.
* ↑ Al-Akhbar editorial 2021.
* ↑ Zalzal 2021.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2018b.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2020b.
* ↑ Bannout 2020.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2019b.
* ↑ Elias 2020.
* ↑ An-Nahar editorial 2016b.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2017d.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Wneen 2022.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2017b.
* ↑ Awael News 2018.
* ↑ Ali 2019.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2019c.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2018a.
* ↑ Masrawi 2019.
* ↑ Amro 2019.
* ↑ Lattouf 2021.
* ↑ Bunni 2020.
* ↑ Al-Jarida 2020.
* ↑ An-Nahar editorial 2021a.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2021e.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2020a.
* ↑ Nemnom 2022.
* ↑ Turk 2018.
* ↑ Mustafa 2018.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2021c.
* ↑ Al Arab 2021.
* ↑ El-Fann editorial 2019.
* ↑ Haddad 2022.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2022a.
* ↑ An-Nahar editorial 2020.
* ↑ Halawi 2017.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2018c.
* ↑ Al-Jarida 2018.
* ↑ El-Fann editorial 2018.
* ↑ Merheb 2021b.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2017a.
* ↑ Alama 2019.
* ↑ Alwa 2019.
* ↑ Nawaem 2021.
* ↑ Panet 2021.
* ↑ Elias 2022.
* ↑ Khabar Ajel 2018d.
* ↑ Merhi 2021.
* ↑ Khoury 2020.