Aita Mon Amour

Passionate and poetic laments. Traditional string instruments in a modern electronic jacket. And strong feminist and groundbreaking messages. That is the formula for success with which Aïta Mon Amour works her way up to the figurehead of the Nouvelle Vague in contemporary Arabic music. And Widad Mjama and Khalil Epi will also be adding live power to this on 19 September in GROUNDS.

What started with a chance meeting in a Lebanese restaurant in Montpellier quickly grew into a brilliant collaboration. Their long-awaited debut album Abda, which saw the light of day earlier this year, is also the most beautiful result of this. Inspired by the Abda region, the birthplace of Moroccan Aïta, they show their deep respect for the age-old tradition of the Cheikhates, who pass on their fight against injustice and oppression from generation to generation through words of love, sorrow, hope and freedom in song. These laments form the basis of the music of Aïta Mon Amour and by adding sharp electronics, they create an enthusiastic bridge between the present and the past and give the age-old Aïta tradition a new face. Widad's graceful and virtuoso sense of language and Khalil's energetic playing on the oud and outar go hand in hand and together form the exciting and mysterious sound with which they will completely conquer GROUNDS.