Mdou Moctar, a Tuareg songwriter and musician based in Agadez, Niger, is redefining rock music in his own way with his unique take on the Tuareg sound with elements of psychedelia.
Mdou Moctar’s ‘Afrique Victime‘ was one of 2021’s most lauded releases: an innovative alchemy of Tuareg folk, blues and rock, electric guitar pyrotechnics, field recordings and electronics with poetic call-to-arms lyrics about the plight of his homeland of Niger.
‘Afrique Victime’ rips a new hole in the sky – boldly reforging contemporary Saharan music and “rock music” by melding guitar pyrotechnics, full-blast noise, and field recordings with poetic meditations on love, religion, women’s rights, inequality, and Western Africa’s exploitation at the hands of colonial powers.
If Mdou’s 2019 album ‘Ilana’ was a late ’60s to early ’70s ZZ Top and Black Sabbath record – ‘Afrique Victime’ is mid-’70s to early ’80s Van Halen meets Black Flag meets Black Uhuru. The ferocity of Moctar’s electric guitar and the band’s hypnotic rhythm section are an awe-inspiring display on “Chismiten” and the mournful yet incandescent title track.
After extensive world touring – and the recent release of his EP Niger EP Vol. 1 – Mdou is in the running for a coveted Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards trophy. As the ceremony returns on Sept 28th at London’s Roundhouse, he joins an array of dazzling independent artists vying for the ‘International Breakthrough in association with Deezer’ accolade.
Check out the music video to “Chismiten” https://youtu.be/y23ewhFf_hs
More information about the AIM Awards and tickets can be found here: https://www.aimawards.co.uk/