JEDDAH, 6 June 2006 — Rena Farouk, 23, the rising star in the word of music in the United Arab Emirates has surprised her fans by deciding to quit music for good.
Appearing in Hijab at a press conference at the Dubai Media City on Thursday, Rena said: “In fact this decision is a turning point in my life.”
Explaining the circumstances that prompted her to make her painful decision, the young singer, who did not want to be referred to as a musician anymore, said, “There are personal reasons that have led me to me make this decision. There are, to be frank, some people who want me to make some terrible concessions while everyone knows that I am not the type that would do such things. I was on the point of launching an album but I did not do it to honor my word.”
The UAE artist has even destroyed all her personal music records and videotapes. Rena added that no one had coerced her to make such an important decision. “Now I have regained my confidence and hope to complete my studies,” she said.
With regard to her albums and video-clips already in circulation she said some of the television channels have promised her that they would respect her wishes and not run her songs.
Replying to a journalist’s question why she had wept when she announced her decision to bid farewell to the music industry, Rena said it was because she had discovered that she had failed in her duty toward herself. “Now the time has come to regain my self confidence and return to my normal life. In fact I regret all my artistic work even if it was superb,” she said.
Some reporters expressed their doubt about her seriousness in making the decision and asked if she was announcing such a decision as a short cut to celebrity. “Never, my decision is final and irrevocable,” she said.