Mark Stefanos
When Amjad Mrad began making music in Lebanon, he had little more than a laptop, a bedroom and an ambition to become a pop artist. Self-taught as a producer, he spent the early days of the pandemic learning how to make music on his own, working toward a sound that reflected his interests in a country where Arabic music dominated the industry.
“I was making English pop music in a country where Arabic music dominates the industry, so I was trying to find my own audience and make music that felt authentic to me,” he tells us.
In 2021, Mrad independently released his debut single, “sick of u,” which reached No. 6 on Anghami’s charts and earned placements on several other charts across the Middle East. The release helped him build an audience on TikTok and attracted interest from record labels, including Warner Music Middle East. He ultimately declined the offers, choosing to pursue his education and opportunities in the U.S.
It was the beginning of a winding path that would take him from Lebanon to New York and eventually Los Angeles, where he developed a multifaceted career as a recording artist, songwriter and music industry creative. Along the way, he studied at BerkleeNYC, participated in an international music academy led by Martin Garrix and JBL, and worked on creative campaigns through Warner Chappell Music.
Amjad Mrad (Photo: Michael Abou Nabhan)
Now after nearly three years without releasing music of his own, Mrad is preparing to return with “Liar,” a new single targeted for early 2027. The song will introduce a forthcoming EP that draws from the experiences, insecurities and questions of identity that have shaped his life since leaving home.
Mrad’s move to the United States began with a longstanding fascination with New York. He had imagined living in the city since childhood, eventually making the move in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in songwriting and production at BerkleeNYC. His studies brought him into the historic Power Station studios, a facility with a recording legacy spanning artists including David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Paul Simon.
While at Berklee, he was also selected as a winner of the LAAMP x Splice scholarship competition associated with Grammy-winning production duo Stargate, adding another industry connection to his developing career.
New York, however, didn’t turn out quite as he’d imagined. After years of building up the idea of living there, Mrad found himself questioning whether the city was the right place for him.
“I think I spent a lot of time lying to myself about that,” he says. “How could I not love the city I’d wanted to live in since I was 12? I had built up this entire idea of what my life was supposed to look like, and admitting that it wasn’t making me happy felt almost like admitting I’d failed.”
LA offered a change, and familiarity. “The mountains, the landscape, the weather, and especially the sunshine reminded me so much of Lebanon,” he says. “For the first time since moving to America, I actually felt at home.”
Amjad Mrad (Photo: Louis Van Baar)
In 2023, another opportunity took Mrad to Amsterdam as a participant in the Martin Garrix x JBL Music Academy. He says he was the only Arab artist selected for that year’s international program, which brought emerging musicians, songwriters, singers and producers to STMPD Studios, the recording facility associated with Garrix’s label. The program offered participants an opportunity to develop their creative skills and learn about the business of music from established industry professionals.
Mrad spent a week at the studios, working on three songs and collaborating with other musicians while observing the creative process firsthand. Although none of the songs he worked on during the academy were ultimately released, the experience led to additional opportunities with JBL.
He was subsequently invited to perform during the pre-show programming for Garrix’s sold-out Brooklyn Mirage shows in New York and appeared at JBL’s SoHo location. His relationship with the brand continued through music-related projects, branded content and creative productions, including an opportunity in January 2026 to interview Garrix and singer Benson Boone together.
For Mrad, those experiences represent a remarkable progression from the bedroom producer who once followed his musical influences from afar. After navigating the challenges of establishing himself in LA, including periods of unemployment and layoffs, he eventually found opportunities to work with some of the songwriters and producers responsible for major international hits.
Amjad Mrad (Photo: Jad Saab)
At the Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP), he hosted and moderated conversations with established music creators. Some of the resulting videos reached millions of views, he says, with engagement from artists he admired growing up, including Timbaland and John Mayer.
He also began working on the creative side of Warner Chappell Music, developing and leading digital campaigns involving major artists, songwriters and music catalogs. The work gave him another perspective on how music reaches audiences, from the creative process behind a song to the content and campaigns that help introduce it to listeners.
“Getting to observe their creative processes, understand how they approach songwriting, hear their advice, and learn from people working at that level has been an incredible education in itself,” he says.
The experience came with its own complications. As he became more familiar with the standards and expectations of professional songwriting, Mrad found himself increasingly critical of his own work. Comparing himself with accomplished musicians around him fed a growing sense of insecurity, eventually contributing to writer’s block.
There was also the distance from Lebanon. While building a career in LA, he was trying to process difficult events unfolding back home and worrying about the safety of his family. The emotional disconnect became especially pronounced during writing sessions, where he was expected to contribute to conventional pop songs while dealing with concerns that felt far more immediate.
“My phone would be blowing up with people asking whether my parents were okay, while I was trying to act normal and write a catchy pop song,” he says.
Amjad Mrad (Photo: Rachel Bard)
He struggled with how much of those feelings to bring into the room, particularly when the subject matter of the music seemed disconnected from what he was experiencing.
“There was so much internal censorship happening,” he says. “I didn’t want to be the person who brought the mood down. I didn’t want to be a buzzkill. I didn’t know how to communicate what I was really feeling in those environments.”
The years passed. While he continued working in music and helping other artists develop and promote their work, his own releases stalled. He eventually realized that the music he had previously released was no longer the right reflection of him. “I’m grateful for it because it opened so many doors for me, but I don’t think it’s representative of who I am today,” he says.
His forthcoming track “Liar” marks his return to releasing music and introduces a more vulnerable approach to songwriting. The forthcoming single explores body image, insecurity, identity, confidence and the pressure to project a version of yourself that feels more acceptable to others.
Its title reflects a recurring pattern Mrad recognizes in his own life — convincing himself he was happy in a city because he’d dreamed of living there, presenting confidence when he felt insecure, and telling people he was fine while worrying about his family back home.
“It’s probably the most honest song I’ve written, which is ironic given the title,” he says.
The song will serve as the introduction to a new EP that Mrad is developing with songwriters, producers and other collaborators in LA. The project, which he plans to continue writing and producing through 2027, will explore growing up, self-perception, identity and the experience of building a life far from home.
After years spent learning from established hitmakers and working behind the scenes on other artists’ projects, Mrad is bringing those experiences into his own music. The upcoming material reflects a period of personal and professional growth, informed by his journey from Lebanon to the American music industry and the complicated feelings that accompanied it. For an artist who has spent much of his career helping others communicate their creative visions, the next chapter will be an opportunity to establish his own.
“I want to take everything I’ve learned and put it into a body of work that actually represents who I am today,” he says.
Amjad Mrad (Photo: Jad Saab)