Debuting her singing talents as a child from under dining tables at family gatherings, Hanna’s innate passion lead her on great adventures, opening doors to opportunities such as performing at the TD Bank North Gardens Stadium with the New Kids on the Block for their comeback tour, facing a sold out 37,000 person stadium.
While attending Berklee College of Music, Hanna was finally able to dive into Arabic music through the middle eastern fusion ensemble. From there, she performed with distinguished artists such as Simone Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Erkan Ogur, and Laço Tayfa’s Hüsnü Şenlendirici. Hanna personally directed and performed in the group representing the Middle East in the Berklee International Folk Festival. Hanna also performed and worked alongside artists such as Paula Cole, Don Was, Philip Bailey, Lailah Hathaway, Burt Bacharach, and many others. It was at that pivotal time in Hanna’s musical journey that she realized she had to find a way to join rock music, which she loved so much, with influences from the Arab world, whether that be through arab instrumentation, the language, or with ornamentation and infections in her vocal melodies.
Barakat’s unique style merges Arab-oriental influences, as well as hard rock, for powerful and genuine connections with her audience. Socially and politically charged, her passion-driven compositions and performances often add eastern ornamentation, as well as other musical influences to transcend language and borders to touch the heart. “It is amazing to see musicians from various backgrounds, religions, mindsets, prejudices, and upbringing, that would normally separate them, join together and produce such brilliant sounds,” says Barakat. “Those unique situations are the fertilizer for peaceful soil, and this Earth needs much more of that.” She aims to connect with others, both those displaced from their homelands, being influenced by multiple cultures around them, while simultaneously reaching mainstream audiences that appreciate writings of personal encounters, relationships, life issues, and, of course, love.
After graduation, Hanna headlined at the Boston House of Blues main stage before moving to Beirut, Lebanon, to pursue two of her true loves: music and the Arabic language. Hanna was well received and performed her original rock fusion music throughout the region, namely at Beirut’s Hard Rock Cafe. From there, the world has been her stage, traveling, and performing across the Middle East, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where she currently calls Austin, Texas, home.