Nasri
Nasri performing live with Magic! in September 2014
Nasri performing live with Magic! in September 2014
Background information
Birth nameNasri Tony Atweh
Born (1981-01-10) 10 January 1981
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2002–present
LabelsRCA
Member of

Nasri Tony Atweh (Arabic: نصري طوني عطوة, born 10 January 1981),[1] known mononymously as Nasri, is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer.[2] He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the lead vocalist and songwriter for the reggae fusion band, Magic!, a group consisting of fellow Toronto natives, Mark Pellizzer, Alex Tanas, and Ben Spivak. MAGIC!'s single "Rude" became a major international hit single. He is currently managed by Wassim "Sal" Slaiby.

Nasri is also a renowned songwriter and producer, one half of the songwriting and production duo the Messengers. He and Adam Messinger have produced a string of hits for well-known artists, including Justin Bieber, Shakira, Pitbull, Chris Brown, Halsey, and more. In 2012, he earned the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for his production work on Chris Brown's F.A.M.E.. He also received a Latin Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for his work on Shakira's El Dorado. His songs "As Long as You Love Me" by Justin Bieber and "Feel This Moment" by Pitbull both made the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Early life and education

Nasri was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, as a child of Palestinian Christian immigrants from Bethlehem.[3][4] and began singing at the age of six.[5][6][7] He studied at Senator O'Connor College School, and while attending, was part of the school choir as well as extra-curricular sports.

Career

Early career as a solo artist

At age 19, Atweh presented a demo to a local radio station. He then earned a deal with Universal Canada.[8] Two years later in 2002, he won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest with a song he wrote with Adam Messinger.[9] The following year, he released two solo singles through Universal, "Go" and "Ova N' Dun With"․[10]

The songs received some airplay in Canada, and another song titled "Best Friend" was also heard on indie radio in his hometown in 2003. According to the promotional material attached to his single "Go", he was to release an album titled Invisible Walls sometime in 2003 or 2004, but that never materialized.[10] In 2007, he released a song entitled "Click, Click, Click", that would ultimately be covered by the New Kids on the Block.[8][11]

Writing and production with the Messengers

Nasri is part of the writing and production duo the Messengers alongside Adam Messinger. He helped drive the reunion of the New Kids on the Block in 2007, and wrote numerous songs for them including his first, "Summertime". Over the course of the following years, Nasri wrote (usually with Messinger) for other major label artists such as Justin Bieber, David Guetta, Shakira, Cody Simpson, Cheryl, Boyzone, JLS, Kat Deluna, Elliott Yamin, Jason Derulo, Akon, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, Lana Del Rey, Big Time Rush, Iggy Azalea, Michael Bolton, Peter Andre, JoJo, Jay Sean, Vanessa Hudgens, No Angels, Manafest, and Iyaz.[12]

The Messengers are a Grammy-winning production team. Their work has resulted in two Grammy Award nominations for 2011 Best Pop Vocal Album for Justin Bieber (My World 2.0), 2011 Best Contemporary R&B Album for Chris Brown (Graffiti), and a win for 2012 Best R&B Album for Chris Brown (F.A.M.E.), as well as their collaboration with Justin Bieber / Rascal Flatts in "That Should Be Me" that won a 2011 CMT Music Award for Best Collaborative Video.[12][13][14] In 2017 and 2018, he was honored with the Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for his work on Shakira's El Dorado.[15][16]

Nasri performing on stage with Zedd at Tokyo Summer Sonic in 2015

Success with Magic!

While playing music with friend Mark Pellizzer (who played guitar for Justin Nozuka) in 2012, Nasri conceived of Magic!. Mark Pellizzer then recruited Alex Tanas on drums and Ben Spivak on bass.[8] In 2013, Magic! released their highly successful debut single, "Rude", which peaked at number six on the Canadian Hot 100, topped the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. The band is signed to Sony Music Entertainment and partnered with Latium Entertainment in addition to RCA Records in the USA.[12][17]

Their debut album, Don't Kill the Magic, was released in 2014 and charted at number 5 in Canada and at number 6 in the U.S.[12] Their follow-up, Primary Colours, was released in 2016 and third album Expectations in 2018.[18]

Personal life

Since 2009, he has been linked romantically with the German singer Sandy Mölling.[19] The two had met while working on the No Angels album Welcome to the Dance. He has a son called Noah with Mölling.[20]

Discography

As solo artist

Singles

  • "Go" (2003)
  • "Ova N' Dun With" (2003)
  • "Click Click Click" (2007)
  • "You Deserve Better" (2012)

along with many other unreleased demos

As member of Magic!

Songwriting and production

Selected songs with production and songwriting credits
Song name
[21][22]		 Year Primary artist(s) Album Role Notes
"Summertime" 2008 New Kids on the Block The Block Co-writer US #36[23]
"Single" New Kids on the Block (feat. Ne-Yo) CAN #42[24]
"Crawl" 2009 Chris Brown Graffiti Co-writer, co-producer US #53[25]
"One Life" No Angels Welcome to the Dance Co-writer, co-producer GER #15[26]
"Derailed" Co-writer
"Dance-Aholic"
"Say Goodbye"
"Too Old"
"Young Love"
"Up" 2010 Justin Bieber My World 2.0 Co-writer, co-producer
"That Should Be Me" US #92[27]
"Pray" My Worlds Acoustic US #61[27]
"Never Say Never" US #8[27]
"Mistletoe" 2011 Justin Bieber Under the Mistletoe Co-writer, co-producer US #11[27]
"Next to You" Chris Brown (feat. Justin Bieber) F.A.M.E. Co-writer US #26[27]
"On My Mind" Cody Simpson Coast to Coast Co-writer US Pop #39[28]
"Feel This Moment" 2012 Pitbull (feat. Christina Aguilera) Global Warming Co-writer, co-producer US #8[29]
"All Around the World" Justin Bieber (feat. Ludacris) Believe Co-writer US #22[27]
"As Long as You Love Me" Justin Bieber (feat. Big Sean) US #6[27]
"Don't Judge Me" Chris Brown Fortune Co-writer US #67[25]
"The Vision of Love" Kris Allen Thank You Camellia Co-writer, co-producer US Top 40 #29[30]
"We Own the Night" 2013 The Wanted Word of Mouth Co-writer, co-producer US #94[31]
"Change Your Life" 2014 Iggy Azalea (feat. T.I.) The New Classic Co-writer, co-producer UK #10[32]
"You Don't Care About Me" Shakira Shakira Co-writer
"The One Thing"
"Cut Me Deep" Shakira (feat. Magic!)
"Can I" 2017 Prince Charlez Evolution Pt. 1
"Arms Open" The Script Freedom Child
"Bad News" SOJA Poetry in Motion
"Comme Moi" Shakira (feat. Black M) El Dorado
"What We Said (Comme Moi)" Shakira (feat. Magic!)
"Not Afraid Anymore" Halsey Fifty Shades Darker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Co-writer, co-producer US #77[33]
"Flame" Tinashe Joyride Co-writer
"So Long" Massari Beirut
"High Right Now" 2019 Tyla Yaweh Heart Full of Rage
"I Cry" 2020 Usher non-album release Co-writer, co-producer
"Changes" Justin Bieber Changes
"Never Break" John Legend Bigger Love
"Busy Boy" Chloe x Halle Ungodly Hour
"Don't Make It Harder on Me" Co-writer
"A New Day" 2021 No Angels 20
"Love You for Eternity"
"Hard to Love" H.E.R. Back of My Mind

References

  1. ↑ "MAGIC! - Timeline Photos". Facebook.com. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Kelsie Smith". SXSW 2020 Schedule. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Palestinian Canadian lands huge hit on U.S. music charts". Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "إذاعة الشمس تستضيف الفنان العالمي ابن مدينة الناصرة نصري طوني عطوة". Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Nasri - About". Facebook.com. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Music Junkie – Nael Atweh". Sickestaddictions.com. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "AE: Entertainment: News By Industry – Page 1". 24-7pressrelease.com. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "The MAGIC! of BMI Songwriter Nasri | News". BMI.com. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Black Eyed Peas Present the John Lennon Songwriting Contest's 'Maxell Song of the Year' to Amy Fairchild". BusinessWire. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  10. 1 2 Lau, Melody (21 April 2016). "From the Weeknd to Magic!: Canadian musicians before they were famous". CBC Music. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  11. ↑ Smith, Jay (27 January 2016). "A Look at Danny Wood". Pollstar. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Widran, Jonathan (20 June 2014). "Interview With Hot Band MAGIC! About Their #1 Hit Single "Rude," Their Debut Album and Songwriting". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  13. ↑ Anitai, Tamar (11 July 2014). "Here's The Story Behind MAGIC!, That Band That Sings That Random Reggae Song, 'Rude'". MTV. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Nasri Atweh | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "NOMINEES 18th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards". Latin Grammy Awards. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  16. ↑ Chow, Andrew R. (28 January 2018). "Grammy 2018 Winners: Full List". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "Raggae pop band MAGIC! signs with Sony Music International". Themusicuniverse.com. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  18. ↑ Williams, John (30 June 2016). "Magic!'s Nasri on 'Primary Colours', his high school prophecy and loving the Raptors". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Ein Gespräch mit ... Sandy Mölling, Frankfurt | PRINZ". Prinz.de. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "MAGIC! documents life's crazy changes on Expectations". The Georgia Straight. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Nasri Atweh". Discogs. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Nasri Atweh - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "New Kids on the Block - Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "New Kids on the Block - Chart History - Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  25. 1 2 "Chris Brown - Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  26. ↑ "One Life". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Justin Bieber - Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  28. ↑ "Cody Simpson - Chart History - Mainstream Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  29. ↑ "Pitbull - Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  30. ↑ "Kris Allen - Chart History - Adult Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  31. ↑ "The Wanted - Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "Change Your Life". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  33. ↑ "Halsey - Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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