Bachar Mar-Khalifé is a French Lebanese singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist born in the town of Beyrouth in 1983, 13 February. He is the son of the legendary Eastern-Lute player Marcel Khalifé and of the singer Yolla Khalifé, Brother of Rami Khalifé (a member of the band Aufgang).
He grew up listening to the voice and Lebanese compositions of his father . After training with Abd Al Rahman El Bacha, he went on to the Boulogne Conservatoire, where he gradually gave form to his singular approach to piano and percussions, alongside fellow students Rami Khalifé of course (his brother, piano), but also Aymeric Westrich (drums, synths) and Alexander Angelov (bass, backing vocals), who all took part in the elaboration of his first album in 2010 titled " Oil Slick ". During his musical career worked with conductors Lorin Maazel, James Gaffigan as well as with the Orchestre national de France and the Ensemble intercontemporain. He has collaborated on many projects that fuse jazz, world music, electronic and hip-hop with artists as diverse as Bojan Z, Carl Craig, Francesco Tristano, Murcof or Kery James.
He’s composed soundtracks for various films such as Layla Fourie, directed by Pia Marais and praised in 2013 Berlinale as well as Fièvres by Hicham Ayouch praised in 2015 Fespaco.
Artistically, he is linked to the French electronic music label InFiné with which he created, besides the aforementioned " Oil Slick ", the albums " Who's Gonna Get The Ball From Behind The Wall Of The Garden Today ? " in the 2013 and " Ya balad " in the 2015, a projection of Bachar’s childhood memories and the paths of exile, mainly sung in Arabic as an open letter to Lebanon, his native country.
Born in Jezzine (South of Lebanon). Her love for music and singing was known since childhood Impressed by religious songs and popular celebrations in the village. Pursued her studies in philosophy at the Lebanese University in Beirut, singing with a group of young people “Mouachahat” and heritage melodies. Participated in the creation of the group “Al Mayadine “in Beirut in 1977 with Marcel Khalife (composer, musician and interpreter) with whom she founded a family and gave birth for 2 children Rami and Bachar.
From 1978 until 1980, Yolla was singing with the group in many festivals such as “The Democratic Youth Festival” in Cuba and Berlin, and “Carthage Festival” in Tunisia.
After 1980 Yolla took a distance from her artistic activity until she came back in 2000 with the same group. From 2000 till 2013 she participated at many Arabic, European and American tours and also different Lebanese and international festivals Among which :
“Jarash” Festival in Jordan. Tours in Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar, , United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Soudan and Syria. “ Beit El Ddine” and Tyre Festivals ( Lebanon ) International Book Fair ( Frankfurt) Bozar Theatre ( Brussels ) “Salle de L’Unesco” and Salle “Pleyel” ( Paris) Opera House (Cairo- Egypt ) “ Arabesque” Festival ( Kennedy Center Washington ) “ Fez” Festival for sacred music ( Morocco ) “ Barbican “ theatre ( London ) “ World Trade Center “ ( Dubai )
At the same time of her activity with the group “Al Mayadine”, she developed her own taste and conception for art.
She combined the singing with the body expression, making the art the language of the soul ,which allowed her to go solo or with “Al Makedonia” group in: “Centre du Marais”,” Cabaret Sauvage”
“Institute of Arab World”,” Centre Pompidou” ( Paris ) “La Fete de l’Humanite” ( La Courneuve )
“Les rencontres Culturelles du Riquet “( south of France ) Health International Film Festival in “ Odeum Kos island “ ( Greece ) “World Music Festival” in Bitola, Skopje Museum( Macedonia ) “Janackovy Hukvaldy Festival” ( Czech Republic )
Other musical and dance spectacles with “ Centre de Dances Orientales “ in Paris and the company “Danse Ma Joie” In 2007-2008 Yolla participated at “Hey don’t forget the Cumin” with the director Hala Al Abdallah,who also directed a documentary about Yolla for “France Culture” & Deutschland” radios.
Yolla enriched her vocal experience with Selima Al Khalaf, Catherine Estourelle, Lesle Akl, Mary Mahfouz and the singer Aicha Redouane.
As a solo artist she has released three albums:
"Aah " (2011) "Aah...aah " (2013) "Hawak" (2015 )
She also participated at the album of Marcel Khalife " Fall of the Moon ", singing with him in the song “Wassaya Houriya” .
01 Sorrow 02 Say It Is Love 03 I Love the Night 04 Ah ya zain 05 Henna 06 Praying for Him 07 Sleep My Little One 08 Born Anew 09 The Flower Wreath 10 Pining 11 I Cried Out in Passion 12 Pines of Jezzine
01 Let Me Love You دعني أحبك 02 When You Touch حين تلمس 03 When I Love You عندما أحبك 04 We Are All From Clay كلنا من تراب 05 Do Not Look لاتنظر 06 O My Heart ياقلبي 07 When I am a Child وأنا طفلة 08 In my Wings في جناحي 09 Travel ترحال
