Hany Shenouda: The Renowned Composer Who Redefined Egyptian Pop

Today, we bid a heavy-hearted farewell to one of the region’s music pioneers, Egyptian composer and arranger Hany Shenouda. His decades-long legacy not only revolutionised Egyptian pop music by introducing the synthesiser into productions but also helped shape the careers of many musical icons.

In 1977, he founded and led Al Massrieen, which pioneered Egyptian music by blending Western and traditional Egyptian sounds. They produced hundreds of songs that remain timeless classics among new generations.

Al Massrieen - El Shawarea Hawadeet

1977

Over the years, Shenouda composed music for renowned Arab artists like Nagat El Saghira, while also helping launch the careers of Egyptian icons like Mohamed Mounir and Amr Diab.

Nagat El Saghira - Bahlam Maak

1980

Mohamed Mounir - 3alemony 3eneky

1977

Besides his work with artists, Shenouda also composed some of the most recognisable film scores in Egyptian cinema, such as Samir Seif’s 1991 ‘Shams El-Zanaty’, ‘El Mashbouh’ and ‘El Hareef’.

Shams El-Zanaty Film Score

1991

Until his passing, Shenouda remained deeply connected to Egypt’s music scene, continuing to mentor and collaborate with a new generation of artists. Among his final collaborations was a reimagined version of his 1978 classic ‘Bahlam Ma’ak’ with rapper Ziad Zaza and rising artist Tina.