'If you have a soul the music will strike you'

She won 'The Voice Israel' as a teenager. A decade later, this Palestinian singer aims to represent her people on the global stage

- RICHIE ASSALY

In 2013, when she was 19, Lina Makoul convinced her parents to let her pause her studies so she could compete on “The Voice Israel.” Powered by her moving rendition of classics by Leonard Cohen and Lebanese singer Fairuz, the singer became the first (and so far, only) Palestinian to win the popular singing competition.

“I always knew I belonged onstage. But I realized that there’s a responsibility that comes with that,” says Makoul, who makes her Canadian debut at Lula Lounge in Toronto on Wednesday. “I wanted to represent my people. I knew I had a long journey ahead.”

Three years after winning “The Voice,” Makoul signed with an international label. Encouraged to sing in English, she eventually toured with the British girl group Little Mix and opened for major acts like Queen and Adam Lambert. But something was missing. “I felt unfulfilled,” Makoul recalled.

So Makoul left her record label and started fresh as an independent artist. Today, she’s emerged as a prominent voice for Palestinians on the global stage. Over time, her music — which she describes as “indie pop in Arabic” — has transformed into an uncategorizable clash of pop music, hip hop, traditional Palestinian music and dabke. Though primarily a singer, she frequently flexes her skills as a rapper, delivering tightly packed verses over thunderous percussion and scorching synthesized mijwiz, a traditional Middle Eastern instrument.

“I see music as a way to express and understand who I am,” said Makoul. “The music industry is one of hardest and dirtiest in the world … so if I’m going to do this, I might as well challenge myself to not sound like anybody else.”

In May, after a months-long hiatus, Makoul released “On Mute.” The song has no lyrics, just Makoul’s wordless wails, enveloped by a haunted piano line that slowly builds towards a crescendo of distorted guitars and crashing drums.