Do you play live?
Playing live on stage is a magical time for me.
I can sense the energy from the audience and it fuels me.
I always preferred playing live to recording in the studio. It gives more freedom of expression and direct contact with the audience which creates a magical moment of emotions and adrenaline.

Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
When the time comes and the deal is right, I welcome it.

Band History:
My first band was the STRANGERS in ‘88, we performed in clubs together.
I played and composed music with SHYNA, ‘92 TO ’95, and we made a demo album in ‘94.  In ’96, I created the band CEDRA and in ‘97 we released the album OUT FROM THE GRAVE independently.  Currently I’m writing and recording for my solo album RISE.

Your influences?
I listen to all genres of music, but my main influences are Flamenco guitarists (I love the playing), Jeff beck, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Prince, Joe Satriani, Pink Floyd, Queensryche, Yngwie Malmasteen, Steve Vai, Greg Howe, George Lynch.

How, in your opinion, has the internet changed the music industry?
The internet changed the entire music industry's function as to how musicians market themselves, and how they manage and sell their music. The result is more control for the musician over his music and career, making it easier for starting musicians and composers to reach their audience faster without a middle-man.

What is your favorite spot?
Well it must be the attic in my family's house...I use to spend huge amounts of time in there looking at tons of old black and white pictures of my family's history. I’m fortunate enough to come from a family of photographers, including my dad.
Giza plateau in Egypt is next favorite spot, along with all historical sites; I simply adore history in all shapes and forms.

Where do you get your inspiration to write music and how do you start composing?
I get most of my inspiration out of my daily life, the different music that I hear on the radio or in my CD player and mostly my emotions and what I feel at the time of writing a song. I consider myself an emotional player.
Simply put, I just grab my guitar and start playing or jamming along with a musical track and ideas start to come up. Mainly this is how I write.

Do you plan your solos?
Some parts of it yes, I generally start with a main melody which I plan and then I just solo on and let my emotion and inspiration drive me.

Equipment used:
Ibanez 2000 JEM7DBK
Ibanez 2005 Prestige 1570 with Evolution pickups.
Jackson DK1
BOSS GS10 USB to pc interface effect processor.
BOSS DR880 drum machine.
CRY BABY wha pedal.
MARSHALL JCM800 and ROLAND CUBE60 amps.
Hughes and Kettner TUBEMAN direct Preamp.
Cakewalk recording software.