JEDDAH: In less than a month since its release, Halawella (Mostakell 2015), the joint album of Egyptian singer Maryam Saleh and Lebanese composer Zeid Hamdan, has achieved great success throughout the Arab world, receiving positive reactions and reviews from music critics and audiences alike.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed online news portal has posted a critical review describing Maryam as: “A sharp bold voice that imposes a new meaning beyond the lyrics, creating cynical paradoxes and forcing the listener to dismantle the direct meaning and engage with the songs spontaneously.”

While Hassan Al-Saheli writes in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Modon “Maryam Saleh’s performance introduces the original spirit of the songs and uses numerous theatrical styles of performance that can be noticed in any one song.”

UAE’s The National newspaper describes Halawella as “an impressive collection of sharp beats and humor.” While Cairo Scene says that the album is “refreshing … and Maryam’s delivery is unexpected as it is comical and playful.”

Mostakell released a lyric video for Youyou, one of the album’s songs, and revealed that more videos and tour dates by Maryam and Zeid will be announced in the coming few weeks; starting with their appearance at Rich Mix London on Oct. 23rd.

The new album, Halawella, comprises 10 songs; half of which are inspired by the oeuvre of the salient duo Sheikh Imam and Ahmed Fouad Negm as Maryam used to sing. The new album includes remixes of these songs by Zeid, in addition to some of Maryam’s songs.