DUBAI: The Jordanian singer-songwriter talks motherhood, identity, and authenticity.
I clearly remember my first solo performance, at five years old, in kindergarten. When I stepped on that stage, I felt something in my heart that was different and extremely special. It made me fall in love with theater and storytelling. I made myself a promise that day: that I would follow that feeling and passion forever. That’s what started it all. I took part in every talent show and musical I could, working my way up until I was the lead in “The Sound of Music” in high school.
Reina Khoury talked about motherhood, identity, and authenticity. (Supplied)
I love that I get to be creative every day, in different ways. Whether it’s finalizing a song or starting a new one from scratch, every step is interesting in its own way. It’s also not something I’m forced to do — it’s inherently me, I actually can’t not do it. During my pregnancy, it gave me life to work on my music. Going to the studio, recording up until eight months pregnant, even when I was out of breath, all gave me such good energy. My work is the way I express myself; it’s how I keep that part of me that’s an artist separate from the mother, the partner, the sister. It’s more than just work; it’s a part of my identity.
Outside my work, nothing is more fulfilling and meaningful than being a mother. Nothing gives me a stronger sense of purpose than seeing my baby grow, speak, and become an individual — and knowing that a huge part of that is because of the effort, love and care I put into him. Music coupled with motherhood is such an incredible path for me — it has helped me hone my artistic identity a lot more, and made the music even more true to who I am.
My mom has been the biggest influence on my character, personality, and philosophy. I have three sisters, and femininity, sisterhood, and family have always been key pillars for me. I feel that translates naturally into my songs and artistry. My mom is also a very big fan of music, and so many of the songs I’m drawn to are songs she used to play in the car or at home. My parents always taught us that family is the most important thing in the world, and that, no matter what, we, as sisters, need to stick together.
Khoury and her son — 'Nothing gives me a stronger sense of purpose than seeing my baby become an individual,' she says. (Instagram)
I really admire the Egyptian rock band Cairokee. They create introspective Arabic music with deep stories and messages, and I’ve always looked up to their sound and songwriting process. They also have hardcore, die-hard fans who appreciate everything they put out, and I’ve seen that firsthand watching their performances in Egypt and Jordan. They work incredibly hard and they tour as well, which is all very inspiring. That’s a big part of what pushed me to work with their producer, Sherif Moustafa, who has been a mentor to me during the making of my debut album.
People who only know me through Instagram think I’m uptight or unapproachable and I’m the exact opposite of that. That misconception has actually pushed me to want to speak more online, rather than just posting pictures. Sharing a bit more of the personal stuff — daily tasks, taking my son out — makes people feel like I’m more genuine as a human, separate from being an artist.
I’m really proud of my debut album. It has been a lifelong dream. I was too scared before to fully commit to creating an album and putting myself out there in that way, so I’m really excited for the world to hear it, because I poured my heart and soul into it.
The best advice I’ve ever been given is to make sure the artistic choice comes before anything else. That really resonated with me because, obviously, you want to become successful as quickly as possible, and you try to find the easiest and the quickest route. But at the end of the day, the artistic choice is always the right choice because you’re never going to regret it.
Khoury performing in London in 2023. (Instagram)
The worst advice I’ve ever been given is to keep releasing music so that I’m not forgotten because that’s what the algorithm wants. I was advised to release a new song every month, which seemed crazy to me. It makes me feel like some people view music as “content” rather than real art.
I’ve changed friends a lot after becoming a mom. So many things shift when you’re a mother: your perspective, your energy, your tolerance levels, the people you want to be surrounded with. You’re already tired and drained, going through phases of ups and downs, and so you want people around who understand what you’re going through, are supportive, honest and real. It’s important to me that friends are genuine and bring out the best version of me.
Men in the MENA region aren’t very excited about helping female artists to break boundaries and create something new. I haven’t personally experienced any difficulties or challenges, but, in general, it’s still a very male-dominated field. There are fewer female artists, and less focus on letting them perform, shine, create, and write. I’d love to work with female producers, writers, and performers, and to have an all-female band, but I don’t feel like that idea is fostered or supported enough.
Becoming a mother has only deepened my appreciation for how strong women are. Women are often expected to carry multiple identities at once — mother, partner, professional, creator — and keep moving forward through challenges that aren’t always visible. If there’s something men most need to learn from women, it’s resilience and perseverance.
