Change your tune for the weekend with BURO’s weekly playlist brought to you by the ‘IT’ djs and artists in town.
Today, look no further than this super-duper playlist curated to take you on a sonic adventure by MAYSSA KARAA. So, whether you’re looking to jam out with friends or chill this week-end, hit play and let the music take over. Get ready to be transported to a whole new world of sound and enjoy the ride.
Mayssa Karaa isn’t just a voice, she’s a cultural force.
She first captivated the world with her haunting Arabic take on “White Rabbit” for American Hustle, then went on to collaborate with Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman on “Hayati” and co-lead the Expo 2020 Dubai anthem, “This Is Our Time.” She even made history by performing in Arabic beside Andrea Bocelli during his New Year’s Eve concert in Abu Dhabi, a moment that echoed across the region.
From UNESCO Paris to Dubai Opera to the iconic Beiteddine Festival, Mayssa has lit up some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Today, as the Artistic Director of Berklee Abu Dhabi and the visionary behind the Firdaus Orchestra, she continues to blend East and West with a signature magic that only she can create.
The Lebanese-American singer-songwriter makes a powerful return this month with her new single and music video, “Mata Betoud” (When Will You Return), a track that blends the poetry of Arabic lyricism with an indie-alternative heartbeat. A collaboration with Anthony, the lead vocalist of Lebanon’s beloved band Adonis, the song bridges two generations of the country’s indie scene. It carries the universal ache of longing — for a person, a home, a moment in time — wrapped in a sound that speaks to both Arabic listeners and global audiences searching for raw emotional truth.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Elie Fahed, the accompanying music video translates that emotion into visual poetry: quiet distances, held breaths, and the magnetic pull of love that refuses to fade. “Mata Betoud is more than a love song, it’s a question we’ve all asked,” Mayssa says. “It’s about missing someone or something deeply, and holding onto the hope that love finds its way back.”
But Mayssa’s story doesn’t begin here.
She first caught international attention with her hypnotic Arabic rendition of “White Rabbit” for American Hustle, followed by collaborations with Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman on “Hayati” and her powerful performance of the Expo 2020 Dubai anthem, “This Is Our Time.” She made history singing in Arabic alongside Andrea Bocelli on New Year’s Eve in Abu Dhabi, and has since graced iconic stages from UNESCO Paris to Dubai Opera and the Beiteddine Festival. As Artistic Director of Berklee Abu Dhabi and founder of the Firdaus Orchestra, she continues to shape the region’s cultural landscape with vision and soul.
And just in time for the weekend, Mayssa has curated an exclusive playlist on BURO, a soundtrack that mirrors her world: emotional, cinematic, and beautifully woven between cultures.
