Producer Sleiman Damien Pushes the Boundaries of Arabic Pop, One Hit At A Time
The Lebanese hitmaker dishes his secrets to creating timeless music and why it's not one-size-fits-all process.
A pair of AKG headphones, a Shure SM7B microphone, and some cigarettes. These are the three amenities the Lebanese music producer and mastermind behind the Arab world’s biggest hits used during our conversation.
Clad in a black T-shirt, hexagon-shaped eyeglasses, and a smile, Sleiman Damien speaks from the comfort of his beautiful apartment in Dubai, where he relocated three years ago. This very space is where much of his musical magic unfolds.
“I feel truly blessed to do what I do. Establishing myself as a respected producer took a lot of work and effort, but I also got lucky. Every morning, the first thing I do is express gratitude for the opportunity to create music,” says Damien.
Beginning as a ghost producer behind the scenes to becoming a household name in Arabic pop music, the hitmaker’s relentless pursuit of innovation and versatility shines through in his repertoire, working with a range of artists from mega pop star Balqees to indie bands like Adonis, garnering over millions of streams across hundreds of his credits.
While many producers adhere to a signature sound—like Pharrell’s four-count intro and Timbaland’s heavy 808 drums— Damien believes he has no definitive sound, attributing this to his enjoyment of discovering new types of music every day.
Listeners can easily hear this versatility in the production that Damien tailors to each artist, be it “Sahi El Leil” for Syrian icon Georges Wassouf or “Ya Nahla” for superstar Haifa Wehbe, even down to the catchy summer collaboration “Ana” by Lebanese singer Dana Hourani, Algerian rapper Anas, and Tunisian rapper NORDO.
“Every track is a unique experience because each artist has their own personality,” Damien emphasizes. “I aim to be as respectful as possible to the original idea of the song while also pushing my artist to experiment a little.”
Growing up in Beirut, Sleiman mostly listened to Western music with little exposure to Arabic music except for classics like Fairuz, Sabah, and Umm Kulthum. The producer also credits his dad for exposing him to jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis.
As he got older, Damien shares that he himself was “all over the place” navigating phases of metal and pop, among other genres.
He only first encountered Arabic music when he began producing it professionally, experimenting with pop hits and bringing a fresh perspective to Arabic pop from his Western background.
One of these hits is Carole Samaha’s “Sahranine” in 2014, a massive hit across the Arab world and one of his first credited songs.
Sleiman doesn’t believe there is a rule of thumb for creating music. Instead, he emphasizes, it’s the synergy and amalgamation of all involved elements—there’s an almost metaphysical reason behind whether a song becomes a hit.
“It’s very difficult to identify trends in advance because of how people consume music nowadays,” the producer explains. “This is partly due to the explosion of short-form content in the last few years and shorter attention spans, but also how the ease and speed of access have dramatically democratized tastes and preferences. It's almost impossible to compile factors homogeneously.”
Damien stresses that true success lies in resonance, not just metrics. If a specific intention or feeling—whether from the artist, songwriter, or producer—reaches people and they understand the message, the song has succeeded in the producer’s mind.
“Commercial success is necessary to sustain a living, but true success is when your music connects with people,” the producer explains. “Data gauges music as a product, but as art, you can’t look at numbers.”
That’s why, on release day, Damien remains confident that he did what he felt was right for the song, fully satisfied regardless of the commercial success.
“Success is in God’s hands—you can’t predict how it will make people feel. I think it’s disingenuous for artists to equate success solely with streaming numbers.”
A testament to his impact, in 2022, Sleiman teamed up with composer and songwriter Nabil Khoury to create Abeer Nehme’s “Bala Ma Nhess,” a song that amassed over 50 million views on YouTube.
“Production- and composition-wise, ‘Bala Ma Nhess’ does not follow the typical structure of Arabic pop,” Damien admits. “Surprisingly, it has found a very large audience, with many people who don't usually listen to Arabic or pop music adopting it as a favorite. When this happens, it's incredibly invigorating and a big part of why I do what I do.”
Away from the day to day of production, Damien finds solace in his marriage and remains openly vulnerable about his struggles with anxiety.
“I've been struggling with anxiety since I was a teenager,” he shares, crediting his supportive family. "The pressures of the industry can be overwhelming. Being mindful, communicating, and taking proactive care is essential to handle stress and maintain well-being, personally and professionally."
There are exciting things on the horizon for Damien, working on new music for Balqees, Nai Barghouti, Carole Samaha, Haifa Wehbe, Dana Hourani, and many more.
But Damien yearns for more.
“It’s a journey, not a single moment,” he says. “The goal is to create something that makes people feel and connect with the audience. My job is translating the song's emotional message and creating an authentic environment for the artist to shine. If it's not credible to the artist, it won't be credible to the audience.”
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