On Friday, the American University in Cairo hosted an open discussion with Nikisha Bailey, the director of the Nvak Foundation, for Egyptian journalists to shed light on the launch of a new program to train and develop more than 40 female Egyptian musicians in several fields like music writing, music management, marketing, and engage them with award-winning artists, and international acts. The name is held under the theme of “MuSHEqa” program.
Bailey welcomed receiving various questions from Egyptian reporters that tackled the targets of the “MuSHEqa” program, the challenges of the industry for women, the findings of the training programs for female artists, and the efforts of the “She Arts” festival to support Egyptian female artists.
Bailey said that Nvak Foundation trained almost 500 women in various countries. They supported them by engaging those artists to new fresh and new resources and creating a good network of communications.
About choosing only 40 artists for the “MuSheqa” program, she said: “40 is in our perspective the max to have. So, they can actually learn. That way we're able to hit enough and to be able to give focused opportunity and education
to them. And, it will allow them to work in a space where it doesn't feel too rushed or too crowded.”
“We mainly just care about the quality of people who want to perform, that want to pursue being an artist, pursue being in creative just and make sure that they're you know they're people who or women who don't necessarily have that opportunity. So they might not know that being an artist or being a writer or being a producer is something that they could do and we want to make sure to show them that they can.”
About the system of the workshops, whether they are online or in-person, Bailey explained that both techniques are applied.
She continued: “We still do virtual workshops. We do in-person workshops, we still pay for sessions, and we have a community group on WhatsApp that's a big chat that everyone can talk into. We have a discord which is like another virtual platform where people can connect so we still keep in touch with everyone.”
Bailey also revealed that they are keeping themselves in touch with the trainees who finished their program and following up on their journey in the scene of music.
She added that after three months, they contact the participants to see if they're still making music if they're still creating music. They also give them the chance to apply for the artist care program.
After that she was asked about the psychological and mental support for female artists, especially to help them face the challenges in the scene.
Bailey responded: “I think the biggest part about the camps that Nvak does and what we're doing with She Arts is the community that we bring together like bringing people together to let them know that it's okay to feel like a little bit of imposter syndrome.
I've worked in the music industry for 12 years but definitely early in my career I also felt like I wasn't supposed to be there, I didn't belong and it's really finding a community and kind of finding your inner strength which sounds a little cliché but finding confidence and seeing other people around you doing what you're supposed to be doing like I had a very a background to where I wasn't supposed to be where I am now like I grew up very poor in conditions and I was able to start interning which is basically working for free and work myself up to like a vice president at like a major record label so it is possible and I think when we bring our professionals and our industry professionals to these classes it's to show people that it's possible.”
After that, she spoke about what she likes about Egyptian music and culture: “I love it. There are lots of instruments the voices are incredible. The melodies, the different types of scales which are hinted to sometimes western music that sampling from Arabic countries.”
She added: “I'm most excited to see the actual culture come through in the performances and the sounds and to see what we can learn on our side from the Egyptian artists.”
“I think by when you become a part of our program you're connected with women across the globe like and so you're able to again have that community but also you're able to see when we bring in like our U.S. instructors and our partners you see women who are making just as much money as men or who have just as much success as men.”
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