Jhameel; it means “beautiful” in Arabic and it’s also the name of a talented artist making waves in the music industry. Maybe you saw him when he lived in CZ (the Berkeley co-op on North side) a couple years back or you recognize his song, “Collision,” on the latest Verizon commercial. Either way, there’s no denying Jhameel’s talent for creating catchy and funky melodies that are at times reminiscent of Michael Jackson and even Prince’s hits. Jhameel is a true pop polymath, or Renaissance man of music, as he not only plays multiple instruments (guitar, piano, bass, drums, violin, cello, trumpet, and keyboard) but also mixes and produces all of his songs himself.Â
Son of a master violinist, Jhameel wasn’t always on track for a career in music. He graduated from UC Berkeley in two years with a degree in Arabic and paid for his education through ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). He was going to join the United States Army but never signed on due to his personal beliefs on the US presence in the Middle East. Instead, Jhameel decided to pursue his passion for music and hasn’t looked back.
Full of upbeat rhythms and heartfelt lyrics, Jhameel’s songs are sure to put a smile on your face. On Nov. 8 2011, Jhameel released a new song every week for five weeks in a series called Waves. If you haven’t already done so, check out his website here and get a digital copy of his album, Waves, completely free.
Additional popular tracks by Jhameel include: “White Lie,” “Waves,” and “Shut Up.”
Buy You a Drink by T-Pain – Covered by Jhameel
Performance by Jhameel of “PYT” by Michael Jackson