IN CONVERSATION WITH ANTOUN

We sit down with one of Sydney’s hidden gems before the release of his debut single Some Are.

Tucked away in Merrylands hides one of Sydney’s most soulful voices. Antoun (@antounmusic12) is a polymath; playing the drums, guitar, ukulele and, of course, singing. I’m aware of the affinity that young Middle Eastern men have for Tupac, but that array of instruments implies a more substantial musical devotion.

‘I grew up in a musical family, my grandmother was one of the top singers in North Lebanon’

Seems like it was destined then.

A high school music assessment kickstarted a desire to write more music, alongside an encouraging music teacher. With a wealth of talent and motivation, we’ve arrived a week out from Antoun’s debut. Stylistically, a drummer cum ukulele player must create some of the folkiest music around, surely.

Antoun writes music that is ‘pure and soulful’. His unbounded authenticity is a hallmark of his upcoming single Some Are. With hearty, stripped back production, the vocals soar through and pull at the heartstrings. He insists he wants his debut single to hit ‘as many hearts as possible’, and explains that his creative process is heavily emotion-based.

‘I start by experimenting with the sound on the piano based on the emotion I’m feeling'

Some Are took all of twenty minutes to write. Perhaps the ‘feeling first’ approach to writing makes it easier. Antoun writes with relatability at the forefront as well, citing the the heartfelt importance of his penmanship. Music is also a self-remedy for the artist, who creates partly to make sense of the ups and downs of life.

‘Firstly my music is for me, for my mental health. Every one of my songs is dedicated to the ones who feel the same way…’

Some Are is a bold way to kick off an artist’s career, but Antoun is keen to use his soulfulness to soothe as many souls as possible. Commenting that the future of his music lies in reaching more people, he maintains that the emotional response he gets from family members experiencing his music is a gift he wants to pass on to many more.

‘I could see my music opening up the doors to millions of people’s hearts’.

A noble cause if there ever was one.

Presave Some Are here.