Between Sami Yusuf the "Maestro" and Sami Yusuf the "Caritas," years of inner light have expanded the horizons of the British artist and composer, elevating his musical skies. During the two decades separating his first album from his latest release, Yusuf, now 42, delved deeply into both Eastern and Western spiritual heritage, allowing his work to shape his soul and artistic identity. He is always busy and highly active. Even when he agrees to a rare interview, he appears from within the studio... one ear with his interviewer and the other focused on the final touches being made to a new song.

Yusuf, a British national with Azerbaijani roots, learned Arabic and often incorporates it into his musical works. However, in interviews, he prefers to use his native language: English. When discussing his work, he borrows an Arabic word that encapsulates his professional rituals: "Perfection."

In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Sami Yusuf says: "I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I work a lot on my projects. I spend long hours composing melodies, arranging, writing scores, and orchestrating. I handle everything from A to Z. The level of perfection I apply to my work and my attention to small details take a huge amount of time, and thank God, people notice and appreciate this effort."

Yusuf expresses gratitude for many gifts, one of which is the diversity of his audience, clearly demonstrated at his recent performance at the International Arts Festival in Amsterdam. "I’m very lucky that people come to my concerts from all over the world," he says, with joy in his voice. "They came from the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and even from Medina. I’m happy that people from different regions and backgrounds gather around my work."

At the Dutch festival, where he performed alongside musicians from the Andalusian Orchestra of Amsterdam and Cappella Amsterdam, Yusuf launched his new work: Caritas. It is more than just a song; it is a piece that blends various musical styles, where the melodies reflect a spiritual heritage from the medieval era. In Caritas – meaning "love" – Yusuf merges the East and West, evoking ancient voices with the help of dozens of musicians and instruments, including the oud, nay, qanun, and rababa.

Even weeks after its release, Yusuf cannot move past his excitement for Caritas, nor can he forget the audience’s reaction and their long applause. He says: "I’m very excited about this work, and this doesn’t always happen with every release, but Caritas is truly exceptional."

What makes it exceptional is, first, it's 16 minutes, then its rich musical content, and finally its lyrics, which Yusuf searched through history to find. Regarding his choice of poetry, he comments: "I try to present the giants of spiritual poetic heritage to the new generation so they can dive into this vast and deep ocean of meanings. As for Caritas, I blended the words of the Azerbaijani thinker and poet Muhammad bin Suleiman, known as Fuzuli, who lived in the 16th century, with the thoughts of the 12th-century German Catholic saint Hildegard of Bingen."

The work is not limited to the Latin and Azerbaijani languages; Arabic and Eastern rhythms also add colour to it. Yusuf is known for his love of Arabic poetry and classical Arabic, which he likens to music: "Arabic poetry is very rich, and some poets have written specifically for music, one of them being Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtari from the 13th century, and I am deeply influenced by him."

It is not surprising that Yusuf travels across centuries, as he has made spiritual heritage his cause. He shares that, since his childhood, he has loved traditional music: "I grew up surrounded by the sounds of the rababa, santoor, oud, nay, and qanun, along with classical music, of course. I simply love music, especially traditional acoustic music. I refuse to be limited to a specific genre, but it is certain that there is a spiritual dimension to the music I present, and it is not intended for entertainment."

The word "spiritual" is often repeated by Sami Yusuf, not only when discussing music and heritage but also when asked about his daily life. In a world filled with noise, death, violence, and blood every second, how does Yusuf maintain his inner peace? He answers: "We live in a time that requires us to stay more grounded than ever, whether through meditation or spiritual practice. Even if your feet are firmly on the ground, your soul can still touch the sky." He adds: "The music I compose and the words I sing from poets who spoke the language of love help me reach my personal spirituality that no one else can see."

Yusuf uses his music to bridge people, civilisations, and cultures through his art that is grounded in authenticity. He has chosen the title When Paths Meet for his upcoming album, set to release in January 2023. He comments: "We need more love and empathy, and fewer judgments of others. Not just empathy for the close ones but for the stranger, and for plants, trees, and animals."

Yusuf has also engaged in humanitarian work alongside the World Food Programme, serving as its ambassador and traveling the world to raise awareness. About this phase of his career, he says: "I hope I have made a difference. Now, I focus on private humanitarian activities that I don’t talk about much. I also dedicate a significant portion of my attention to animal rights, especially encouraging adoption."

One of the projects Yusuf is preparing to launch soon is a dedicated academy for teaching music and other arts. For the first time, he speaks about this project: "I consider myself a student in this academy, which will feature top-tier instructors. It will be an online platform for teaching music and other skills, with a focus on developing both the mind and spirit."

Another of Yusuf's endeavours is launching his own music distribution and publishing company, which supports artists whose styles align with his own, steering clear of commercial music. The final project on the horizon is a second album, possibly releasing in the spring, titled Ecstasy; according to Yusuf, the focus will not be on the lyrics but rather on the music, as he aims to transport his listeners into his own world of inner peace.

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