Soul singer Oum El Ghaït Benessahraoui made her international breakthrough with her colorful blend of very different elements: modern soul, acoustic jazz, bossa nova and gnawa, the Moroccan desert blues. Subtle electronics are woven into the acoustic music of her recent album Daba (Arabic for: now). The album was recorded in Berlin and is the follow-up to Zarabi (2015), which was conceived in the Sahara. The lyrics on Daba reference contemporary subjects, such as nature under threat and the fate of migrant, while the music transmits universal hope.
Oum’s songs were inspired by the North African oral traditions and have themes such as femininity, nostalgia and love. They’re sung in the Arabic dialect darija. Her music sounds fresh and innovative, thanks to the unique line-up of her band.
Oum vocals, Carlos Mejias sax / machines, Camille Passeri trumpet, Yacir Rami oud, Damian Nueva bass
