For Abbas Sharif Alaskari, a guitar is a way to explore the sounds of two musical traditions. The British guitarist, composer, and producer, also known as Ali Sherif Al Askari, draws on Middle Eastern melodies and Western rock in his work. His music reflects a journey that began in London, developed in Dubai, and now continues in the UK.
At the center of that journey is a fascination with Arabic maqam. This system of melodic modes offers different ways to shape a phrase, build tension, and express emotion. Abbas has spent years exploring how those melodic ideas can work alongside rock guitar, from the arrangements he developed with Desert Echoes to his current solo project, Between Two Worlds.
From London to Dubai
Abbas began developing his skills in contemporary music performance in London. Rock gave him a foundation as a guitarist, but his musical interests grew as he spent time in Dubai and immersed himself in the region’s traditions.
That experience changed the possibilities he heard in the instrument. Arabic melodies could become the starting point for a riff or a solo, while the energy of rock could give those melodies a different setting. Bringing the two together became a defining part of his work as a performer and composer.
Building a Sound With Desert Echoes
In 2013, Abbas co-founded Desert Echoes, a Dubai-based fusion rock band. He served as its lead guitarist through 2023. Over that decade, the group developed music that combined Arabic melodies with progressive rock elements and released three studio albums.
A band is where musical ideas have to become complete songs. For Abbas, Desert Echoes provided the space to develop his approach to fusion over time: finding how a melody should sit within an arrangement, when the guitar should lead, and how rock instrumentation could support the character of an Arabic-inspired phrase.
His earlier musical timeline also includes Sands of Time, listed in his profile for the years 2008 to 2012. Desert Echoes, however, became the decade-long project most closely associated with his blend of Middle Eastern and Western sounds.
Bringing Maqam to the Guitar
Maqam plays a central role in how Abbas describes his approach to guitar. Rather than treating an Arabic scale as a quick way to make a solo sound different, he focuses on the phrasing and expression behind it.
In his writing about maqam-inspired guitar playing, Abbas discusses Hijaz, Nahawand, and Rast as starting points for musicians. He also explores techniques such as bends, vibrato, legato, and sustained notes. These choices matter because the sound of a melody depends on more than which notes a player selects. How a note is approached, held, or bent can give the phrase much of its character.
That presents a creative challenge on a standard fretted guitar, particularly when working with melodic ideas that use pitches between conventional Western semitones. Abbas points to careful bending and subtle changes in pitch as ways for guitarists to explore that expression. His approach connects musical study with experimentation: learn the character of the melody, then find a way to make it speak through the instrument.
A New Chapter With Between Two Worlds
Abbas is now back in the UK and working on Between Two Worlds, a solo project that began in 2023. Inspired in part by his experiences in the UAE, the project reflects the places and musical traditions that have shaped him.
The title captures the direction of his work. Abbas is drawing from his years in London and Dubai to make music that carries both influences. After a decade as part of Desert Echoes, a solo project also gives him room to follow his own ideas as a guitarist and composer.
Between Two Worlds is described as a project in progress. Its significance lies in the direction Abbas is pursuing: a more personal expression of the musical connection he has spent years developing.
Helping Other Musicians Find Their Sound
Performance and composition are only part of Abbas’s work. He is also a music educator and producer who helps aspiring musicians develop their own sound.
That role fits naturally with his interest in crossing musical boundaries. Learning another tradition involves listening closely, understanding what gives it its character, and deciding how to use that knowledge with care. For a guitarist interested in fusion, technique can open the door, but curiosity and musical judgment shape what comes next.
Abbas Sharif Alaskari’s career so far spans bands, solo work, production, and education. Across those roles, one idea remains consistent: music can carry the influence of different places while still sounding personal. From Desert Echoes to Between Two Worlds, he continues to explore what Arabic melody and rock guitar can create together.
Also Read:
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- Abbas Sharif Alaskari: Bridging Cultures Through Fusion Guitar Mastery
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- Ali Sherif Al Askari’s Evolution as a Fusion Guitarist