Jennifer Grout (stage name Oum Kamar) is an American singer and musician known for performing classical Arabic music and playing the oud. She gained international attention in 2013 after appearing on the third season of the television competition Arabs Got Talent, where she reached the final despite speaking little Arabic.
Her performances of songs associated with prominent Arab singers such as Umm Kulthum and Asmahan received widespread media attention in the Middle East and the United States.
Grout later adopted the stage name Oum Kamar as part of a new artistic direction. Under this name, she began developing music that moved beyond the traditional Arabic and North African repertoire for which she had initially become known. Burlington City Arts has noted her background in Western classical, Arabic and North African musical traditions.
Based in Vermont, she has continued performing and releasing music as Oum Kamar, combining elements of her earlier musical background with contemporary songwriting.
Under the Oum Kamar name, she has released recordings including Silly Girl, "Think About Me", "Girl in Art Store" and "My Boyfriend's a Photographer".
Early life and education
Grout was born and raised in the Boston area of Massachusetts in the United States. She grew up in a musical environment and studied classical music from a young age. She sang in choirs and learned to play the violin and piano.
She later studied music at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. During her undergraduate studies, she developed an interest in Arabic music after encountering the music of Lebanese singer Fairuz.
Grout began studying the oud and teaching herself Arabic songs while still at university. She graduated from McGill's music program before travelling to the Middle East and North Africa.
Career
Arabic music
Grout became interested in Arabic music around 2010 after listening to recordings of Fairuz. She subsequently discovered other prominent Arab singers and began studying the vocal techniques used in classical Arabic music.
After completing university, she moved to Morocco, where she continued studying Arabic music and the oud.
While living in Morocco, Grout also became interested in Moroccan and Amazigh musical traditions.
Arabs Got Talent
In 2013, Grout auditioned for the third season of Arabs Got Talent, a pan-Arab television talent competition broadcast by MBC Group. At her audition she performed Baeed Annak, a song associated with Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, while accompanying herself on the oud.
Her performance attracted attention because she was an American with little knowledge of spoken Arabic but was able to perform technically demanding classical Arabic songs.
During the competition she also performed music associated with Syrian-Egyptian singer Asmahan. She advanced through the competition and reached the season finale.
Her participation received coverage from international media including The Guardian, ABC News, CBS News, the Los Angeles Times and NPR.
The Syrian dance troupe Sima ultimately won the season.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that Grout placed second in the competition.
Later work
Following Arabs Got Talent, Grout continued performing Arabic and North African music. Her repertoire expanded to include Moroccan and Amazigh musical traditions.
She has performed songs associated with artists including Umm Kulthum, Fairuz and Asmahan and has continued to receive attention in Arabic-language media for her interpretations of traditional Arabic music.
Musical style
Grout received classical musical training before becoming interested in Arabic music. Her performances combine her Western classical background with classical Arabic vocal traditions.
She plays the oud and has performed works from the classical Arabic repertoire. Umm Kulthum has been among the singers most closely associated with Grout's performances.
Her work in Morocco also exposed her to Amazigh music and other North African musical traditions.
Personal life
Grout converted to Islam after her appearance on Arabs Got Talent. In an interview with Gulf News, she confirmed that she had converted, while clarifying that a video circulating online that purported to show her conversion was not authentic.
Marriage and religion Grout married a Moroccan musician after moving to Morocco. She converted to Islam in 2013 and has said that her experiences with Moroccan culture influenced her decision.
References
External links
Official website