Pianist and composer Guy Manoukian on the entertainment industry, his commitment to community, and his World Tour with Live Nation.
With unforgettable music that dances between classical precision and upbeat Middle Eastern rhythms, few artists can make a piano speak like Guy Manoukian. The Lebanese-Armenian composer and performer has carved out a unique space on the global music stage, and now his regional success is about to be taken to the next level as he prepares to embark on his highly anticipated world tour with Live Nation. Here. Manoukian sits down with us to reflect on a career that continues to evolve with every performance.
Your partnership with Zenith Watches as a brand ambassador continues. What do you feel are the common codes between you and this historical watchmaker?
As you can see, I choose the brands that I want to partner with very meticulously, and Zenith is one of the brands that I’ve always admired. When this opportunity arose, I was extremely excited and immediately seized the chance. Many of Zenith’s codes are my own, and a significant portion of their aspirations and dreams are ones I look up to and are also part of my journey in this great entertainment world. As Zenith, I hope to be around for a long time and continue to bring something new.
How would you assess the entertainment industry in Dubai and the wider region, and how it’s growing?
Dubai and the region in general are becoming an entertainment hub. Dubai was the first trailblazer to start attracting the world’s performers and artists. People come to Dubai for the security, and when you have security, it’s very easy to establish a good business and convince people to invest. So, I think all the thanks go to the people running this city and the rulers of the United Arab Emirates who have created an environment where people feel safe, with their families, their money, education, transportation – and I think it all comes down to security.
Tell us more about your role as Chief Entertainment Officer for 7Management and what it entails.
I am very proud to be a partner at 7Management, and I am the Chief Entertainment Officer as well as the Artistic Director of “The Theater”, which I see as my baby. What 7Management has achieved over the past few years is nothing short of a miracle, and I’m privileged to be part of this remarkable journey with my partner, Rabih Fakhreddine and the other managing partners. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us.
Last time we met, “The Theater” was shaping up. Today, it has become a nightlife destination of choice. What does this mean to you?
Indeed, “The Theater” has become one of the city’s bright spots, but as a dinner show and an artistic institution in itself, it has become one of the best in the world. I think being in Dubai is a major reason for that. Dubai is a city where you have so much art and so much talent on every level. The Theater has become an institution. Season after season, our concepts are becoming better and better, and I can proudly say that we have created something timeless.
You’re known for your immense passion for sports and basketball in particular. Tell us how your role at the helm of the Homenetmen basketball team is progressing and what you envision for the future of this club.
I think that sports in general are very important. They help children sustain a healthy body. My role is a bit different because what I try to do is to keep our community happy, and I represent a club which is 107 years old – it’s not as old as Zenith, but it is one of the oldest clubs in the region and the oldest club in Lebanon. And we’ve had amazing success throughout the years; we’ve won every championship possible. I took the team from the second division and made them the Arab champions and Lebanese cup holders. Of course, the major thanks go to the fans who have been there from father to son, from mother to daughter, it’s a legacy that is not a burden on my shoulders, because I carry it with honour and respect. We lose with dignity, and we win with honour. The club’s motto is “rise and raise”, I think it’s a beautiful motto because it looks at the power of the human being to raise himself and when he is up there, to raise with him the community of his family or whoever is surrounding him. I think that’s a very unselfish motto, it’s not a socialist motto, it strives for success but also reminds us that with success comes responsibilities. What I’m doing at the club today is giving back a big debt that this club has always given to its fans and supporters.
We know that you will be embarking on a world tour with Live Nation. How did this collaboration come to life, and what can we expect?
The entire region has become a major entertainment hub, and Live Nation, which is the biggest touring company in the world, has established over the past years a solid presence in the region by bringing artists to the area. Last September, I was approached by my very good friend Amin Kabani and James Craven at Live Nation Middle East, and they saw potential in my music and style to crossover. They said maybe it’s the right time for us to take artists from the Middle East to the world, not vice versa. I think Oriental music has a kind of mystique that is very appealing. It has hidden gems that should be exposed to the world. Plus, there are huge Arab communities across the world, so I’m very proud to say that I’m the very first Arab artist to ever get signed to Live Nation. My tour stars May 18 in Los Angeles, May 21 in New York City, May 23 in Detroit, May 25 in Toronto, May 26 in Montreal and I end the first leg of the tour at the historical Olympia theatre in Paris which I’m playing for the third time in the past three years.
We know that you’re working on your new album. What can you share on that?
I have been working on my new album for the past five years, and every year I add a bit more to it. The world changed. Previously, when I was signed to EMI, they used to give me an advance and I would go into the studio and finish my album; I would give them the CD, it comes out, and you go to the shop and buy it. The world is changing so rapidly that the entire industry has undergone significant transformation. Today, we talk about streaming, we talk about online. Nobody goes and buys a physical CD anymore. Every few day,s I come up with new music, and I’m still looking for the best way to put it out. But I have started sharing some small hints out on some posts and stories to create a vibe, but I’m very excited about it, and it’s definitely the best music I’ve ever made in my life.
As an artist, what inspires your music?
What inspires me is life itself. I’m not the type of artist who goes and hides away to create music. All aspects of life with its bitterness, with its loss, its failure, its happiness, its success – that’s what inspires me. If I lack inspiration, I simply go to the airport and watch the people at the arrivals area. You will see so many stories of families, friends, etc. If you know how to read between the lines and look at life in the right way, it’s the biggest inspiration you can ever get. And trust me, you never learn anything from success. It’s the failures that teach you the most, and I always embrace failure. I don’t make a habit of it, but I don’t despise it, and I try to learn from it as much as I can.
What do you still want to achieve in your career that you haven’t done yet?
I think the tour with Live Nation is one of the biggest achievements of my life, and coming out of this tour with a successful output would mean a lot to me! The dynamics of the tour are different,t and it’s not the way that we have worked before; it’s a completely different approach. But I think Dubai prepared me well for this because it is the best pitstop for a person to go global. It puts you in the right mindset and direction. It gives you the right training, and it gives you a sense of responsibility and accountability. In a way, coming from Lebanon, Dubai was the ideal place to initiate this global formation. I’m there now, so let’s see how it goes!
What else is in the pipeline for you this year?
Many things are in the folds that I’ll reveal soon, yet you are going to be the first ones to know that I will be performing back at Dubai Opera for the ninth time on September 14.
Credits:
Founder and Editor in Chief: Lara Mansour
Fashion Director: Lindsay Judge
Photography Ziga Mihelcic
Video by Analog Production
Grooming: Aiza Qureshi
Watches: Zenith Watches
Location: Armani Hotel Dubai
