The American dream hits an Armenian rock artist

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Art & Culture

 

The American dream hits an Armenian rock artist

BEIRUT, by Louise Wernvik | iloubnan.info - March 06, 2013, 12h42

 

 

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New doors are opening up for Armenian rock singer Eileen Khatchadourian, from Beirut, who will soon be performing for an American audience outside of Los Angeles. Little by little she is realizing her dream and going out of Lebanon.

 

“I have high expectations. It´s making me feel anxious and stressed but I guess this is the price I have to pay and I´m ready to pay it,” she said.

 

In December, 2009, Eileen Khatchadourian received an award for best rock album at the Armenian Music Awards, in LA. Now, four years later, she will be doing her first concert in the states. In San Gabriel, outside of LA, a festival for Armenian artists called Mosaic V, will be hosting Eileen Khatchadourian as their main artist of the event, on March 16.

 

“It´s the first time they will see me on stage. Now I have to show them why I got this award.”

 

Mostly Armenians are expected to fill up the 2000 seats of the venue. But Eileen Khatchadourian has also gained many fans who are strangers to her mother tongue. By singing only in Armenian, turning old folk songs into rock, she succeeded in communicating her cultural identity onto an international crowd.

 

“I´m the first female Armenian artist in rock, this is interesting to them. The energy I give on stage goes further than only to Armenians. Whenever I perform I give a resume of each song, so they don’t become stranger and I don’t become stranger to them. They love the music, the production, and probably my voice as well.”

 

America has left a star shaped mark on Eileen Khatchadourian. Her big wish for this concert is that it will generate in more opportunities, helping her leave Lebanon and establish herself as musician in other places of the world. By this time next year, she hopes to be in the states again.

 

“I love the states. This country really gives you the tools to succeed and if you´re smart and lucky enough you can get somewhere. It´s a country you can only admire.”

 

After her concert in California, Eileen Khatchadourian will be continuing her travels to Europe, where she will be screening for a movie in Berlin, which features two of her songs. She will also be travelling to Barcelona to shoot a music video. Though Eileen Khatchadourian has a busy spring in front of her, her Lebanese fans will not be forgotten. When she returns home in the middle of April, she is hoping to have a concert, in Beirut, which will be her first within the last two years.

 

http://youtu.be/4vFw_TR6yyY