Ghaliaa Chaker

Career

Ghaliaa Chaker, a Syrian artist born in 1998, started writing songs and composing music when she was sixteen. Her work draws from her own life and she sings in multiple languages. She first appeared in August 2018 with the R&B rock track "Why?", followed by "Kel El Kalam". Apple Music named "Why?" one of the top ten releases of that year.

Later in 2018, she put out two more singles: "Praying/Je Prie", a cool, reflective song about forgiveness and redemption sung in English and French, and "Shou Bidak", an Arabic power-ballad made for radio. A music video for "Praying" was filmed on Jebel Hafeet. That December, she performed at the Emirates Woman's Balcony Sessions inside the Apple Store at Dubai Mall. In 2020, she took part in the UAE's online music festival The Beat DXB Lockdown, where 33 artists performed over nine hours.

Chaker played a ten-minute set from her home on Instagram. In October 2023, she joined 24 other Middle Eastern and North African artists on the single "Rajieen", a charity release to raise money during the Gaza war and the ongoing genocide there. She has released two albums, Amygdala and Kel Yli 9ar, and more than thirty songs, including hits like "3abali", "Nas", "Cause You Trouble", "Don't You Dare", "Praying", and "Go Away".

Did You Know?

• She grew up in Al Ain and received her degree from the Al Ain campus of Abu Dhabi University.
• Her debut single "Why?" was ranked one of the Top 10 Releases of 2018 by Apple Music.