“The tattoos on my face draw inspiration not only from Berber culture but also from various regions across North Africa. I follow in the footsteps of my grandmother (peace to her soul), who hailed from Tlemcen, Algeria, and adorned herself similarly. My deep connection to my roots, encompassing culture, spirituality, and more, profoundly influences my art. This influence manifests in my voice when I sing in Arabic or
range, known as quarter tones. Additionally, it reflects in my choices of sounds, percussion, and more”.
incorporate notes beyond the classical
“Despite growing up in France, where I was exposed to a plethora of oriental and pop-soul music, it’s truly the fusion of these diverse influences that shape my identity. I recall a moment when I first ventured into electronic music and began infusing it with oriental elements. My dad was initially apprehensive, fearing that such a blend might pigeonhole me into a specific style and limit my opportunities. However, upon witnessing videos of artists like Adam Port incorpo- rating pieces by renowned figures such as Amr Diab, he felt a sense of joy and pride seeing the audience respond positively to Arabic music”.
Collaboration seems to be a cornerstone of your artistic approach. When selecting artists to collabo- rate with, what criteria do you consider? And what do you believe are the key ingredients for a successful musical partnership?
“My primary preferences for collaborations involve personal choices and/or musical “crushes.” I prefer the collaborative process to unfold naturally, driven by an initial desire to exchange artistic ideas and blend genres”.
“Lately, I’ve been exploring collaborations with artists whose styles differ significantly from my own. This diversity adds genuine richness to the creative output. For
Joakinn Luke and RA (MX), ventures into a techno universe, a departure from my usual work. Similarly, my collaboration with musician Ghenwa Nemnom, known for her downtempo style and organic sounds, repre- sents another departure”.
“The key aspect in collaborations is knowing how to surround yourself with artists who have the same notion of sharing and not dictated by their ego because the goal of a collaboration is to get the best out of everyone to make a masterpiece”.
Inspiration can strike from various sources. What fuels your creativity when embarking on a new project? Are there particular experiences, emotions, or even external stimuli that consistently spark your imagina- tion? How do you channel these inspirations into your music-making process?
“My first source of inspiration is the “mood” I’m in. I use my emotions a lot in my music which can be stimu- lated by various things: an unusual encounter, a long discussion, a heartbreak, a song, a movie, an art piece. There have been occasions when I’ve left a movie thea- ter feeling so deeply engrossed in the narrative that upon returning home, I’ve immediately headed to the studio to translate those emotions into music.
“Here´s an anecdote, my song “High” was inspired by an evening when I attended a DJ’s performance (who- se identity I’ll keep secret, haha). I found him so sexy on stage and inhabited by his music that I felt pos- sessed during his set. When I returned to the studio I wanted to use this tension to benefit my creativity”.
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mixmagnl.com instance, my track “Lonely Night,” featuring
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