Layal Mounir Abboud (, ; is a Lebanese pop singer, folk music entertainer, sound-lyric poet, concert dancer, fit model and Muslim humanitarian.
Born to a musical family in the Southern Lebanese Tyrian village of Kniseh, Abboud is a former ISF officer and studied English literature at Lebanese University, translation at Beirut Arab University and musical expression at the American University of Science and Technology. She appeared for the first time in the Studio El-Fan series debuts as a South Lebanese competitor from 2001 to 2002. Abboud's musical career flourished with the release of her first album Fi Shouq (: on longing) published in late 2007. Sings in different Arabic dialects, famous for her presentation of Lebanese folklore music and internal summer concerts and tours. Abboud is a singer member in the Syndicate of Professional Artists in Lebanon.
Biography
Early life and education
Layal Abboud was born into a large Muslim family in the southern village of Kanisah in Lebanon's Tyre District. Abboud's father and mother, named Mounir and Maryam, had three brothers and six sisters between them. As a child Abboud started singing and dancing and was a fan of Egyptian pop singer Amr Diab. Her father encouraged her and bought her a violin while she was six years old. Starting at age 14 she worked as a private tutor for more than 13 students. Abboud studied English literature at the Lebanese University and translation in the Beirut Arab University, graduating with a master's degree. She went on to study music at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of music for two years.
Abboud served as an officer for the Lebanese Police Force, working security for two years in the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport's Inspection Department.
Musical career
Abboud appeared on TV for the first time on the hit show Studio El-Fan as a competitor for its 2001–02 season. She sang at various Beirut cafés and restaurants, eventually networking with musicians like Richard Najm, Tony Abi Karam, and Salim Salameh. Abboud went on to study music under Richard Najm, and in 2006 became a multi-instrumentalist skilled in the oud, organ and guitar. Her first album, Fi Shouq (: On Longing) was released in late 2007. In an interview with Egyptian media about her penchant to music, Abboud has stated, "Music is my life!"
Abboud's inspirations include Ammar El Sherei, Baligh Hamdi and Sabah whom Abboud called the "ideal of my art career." In July 2014 Abboud also said that she is "very much drawn to French musicians, possibly because I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic."
In addition to being a singer and musician, Abboud is also a poet and composer, though says that she refrains from publishing her poetry or compositions in order to focus on her musical career as advised by her manager Dory Shehade.
Business and fashion
In 2014 Abboud called Akel Fakih "the mastermind" behind the way she dresses in her professional, social, and daily life. In 2015 Akel Fakih said he works with Layal Abboud "in a very distinctive and upscale way, going on to say that, "there is a chemistry that brings me together in fashion. She trusts my opinion and tastes, and this is one of the reasons why Layal chose me in her concerts." Abboud has elaborated on her fashion team, saying, "Elie Samaan does my hair and makeup; my stylist is Serene Assaad, and my photographer is Hussein Salman." On 12 October 2017, She appeared publicly for the first as a fit and fashion model dressed and designed by Akl Fakih, in Design & Brands Event held at the Four Seasons Hotel of Beirut. Abboud is founder of Amman-based wedding planning company Loulou Secret. She also runs Layal Productions for her music.
Media issues
Sometimes called a seductive artist and femme fatale by Al Akhbar and other critics, Abboud appeared on the program Bala Teshfir on the Al Jadeed network in 2015, stating, "Being bold is not seduction". She believes there is a bias against her and said, "I am a normal artist and contemporary with fashion."
In 2016 counterfeit images were published attributed to Abboud's likeness. She appointed attorney Haitham Tarshishi to file a lawsuit against "all those involved in the forgery of a picture attributed to her through social media sites, accompanied by words beyond the limits of fitness." In August 2016 the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation reported that a suspect had been arrested.