Massari

Massari, born Sari Abboud, is a Canadian artist of Lebanese origin, born on December 10, 1980, in Beirut.

He grew up in Canada, moving to Montreal at age ten and then to Ottawa at thirteen, where he currently resides. A trilingual artist, he is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.

His stage name, Massari, is a Levantine and Lebanese slang word meaning “money” (مصاري). His musical influences are diverse, citing Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin, but also, significantly, the legendary Arab singer George Wassouf, who taught him to “sing from the heart.”

His music authentically draws from his Middle Eastern roots, incorporating Arabic melodies. He explains that his inspiration comes largely from women, which is reflected in positive, energetic tracks.

His career took off in 2002 with the release of “Spitfire,” which received heavy rotation on Ottawa radio stations. His self-titled debut album was released on May 31, 2005, on the MapleNationWide/Universal label.

The album’s first single, “Smile For Me” featuring former Bad Boy Entertainment artist Loon, became a hit, spending 24 weeks on the Canadian Top 40 and peaking at number 18. The award-winning music video, directed by RT!, received heavy airplay on MuchMusic, MuchVibe, and MTV Canada.

The second single, “Be Easy,” also received strong radio support in Canada. Its video, again directed by RT!, was added to heavy rotation on music channels. For this album, Massari worked closely with the production team at Capital Prophet Records, consisting of Da Heala and Lynx, whose vibe perfectly matched his sound and style.

His work blends club bangers, mid-tempo tracks, and smooth ballads, all infused with a rich cultural sound.