{"id":2242970,"date":"2026-01-20T22:27:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T22:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2242970"},"modified":"2026-01-20T22:27:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T22:27:19","slug":"tuareg-desert-blues-meets-electronic-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/tuareg-desert-blues-meets-electronic-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuareg Desert Blues Meets Electronic Music"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"ecba85ea-e183-4c01-9b99-9238afc4d66f\">\n<p class=\"kicker \" style=\"\">MUSIC<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subtitle \" style=\"\">The Tuareg veterans of the desert blues venture into new territory on their fourth studio album, exploring feelings of nostalgia and displacement through electronic soundscapes and synthesized rhythms.<\/h2>\n<p><figcaption itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"\">Imarhan are: guitarist and lead vocalist Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane aka Sadam, bassist Tahar Khaldi, guitarist Hicham Bouhasse, percussionist Haiballah Akhamouk, and guitarist Abdelkader Ourzig.<\/figcaption><figcaption itemprop=\"author\" class=\"\" data-byline-prefix=\"Photo\">by Marie Planeille<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-element-guid=\"212601f5-dab1-4979-e049-a16b9ef4589f\">\n<p>\u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">How to cope with the epoch we\u2019re in? How to navigate this age? I can\u2019t do it. I can\u2019t take part in this hectic race. I can\u2019t keep up with the times<\/span>,\u201d sings <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane<\/span>, aka <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Sadam<\/span>, lead vocalist of Tuareg band <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/tag\/imarhan\" target=\"_blank\">Imarhan<\/a><\/span>, on their new album <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Essam<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Essam<\/span> (\u201clightning\u201d in the Tuareg language of Tamasheq) is the band\u2019s fourth album, recorded at their Aboogi Studio in the heart of Tamanrasset in southern Algeria. The desert blues\u2019 signature guitar chords lead into the first track \u201cAhitmanin,\u201d but there\u2019s something else interweaving with the voices of their community: a new intimacy, and a foray into electronic production. <\/p>\n<p><!-- placeholder(#1) --><\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"92edc441-efb4-483c-9a17-3166229a875d\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/T1nYzGz2VGU\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWith <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Essam<\/span>, we wanted to try something new and mix assouf with other kinds of music,\u201d guitarist <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Hicham Bouhasse<\/span> tells <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">OkayAfrica<\/span>. Assouf, also referred to as \u201cguitar poetry,\u201d is a genre of the Tuareg, a nomadic people that has widely been widely displaced from their land in the Sahara and often reside in refugee camps in Southern Algeria and Northern Mali.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Assouf is Tamasheq and translates to loss, longing, homesickness, or &#8220;the pain that is not physical.&#8221; It is a reflection of displacement, identity, and belonging, some of the album\u2019s core themes. But while nostalgia rings through every song of the album, there\u2019s much more: hope, togetherness, and curiosity. <\/p>\n<figure data-element-guid=\"d081d06e-4ef1-465a-aabb-861f69837874\" class=\"column small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content border-radius-8 border-radius-mobile_8\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"img fullwidthTarget\">\n            <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421613.webp?imageId=1421613&amp;width=2116&amp;height=1208&amp;format=webp\" width=\"1058\" height=\"604\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421613.webp?imageId=1421613&amp;width=2116&amp;height=1208&amp;format=jpg\" width=\"1058\" height=\"604\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421613.webp?imageId=1421613&amp;width=960&amp;height=548&amp;format=webp\" width=\"480\" height=\"274\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421613.webp?imageId=1421613&amp;width=960&amp;height=548&amp;format=jpg\" width=\"480\" height=\"274\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><br \/>\n            <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n                    <\/div>\n<p><figcaption itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"\">Since their first self-titled album in 2016, Imarhan collaborated with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals and Giant Sand\u2019s Howe Gelb, opened up for Kurt Vile, and were remixed by Moscoman.<\/figcaption><figcaption itemprop=\"author\" class=\"\" data-byline-prefix=\"Photo\">by Marie Planeille<\/figcaption><\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>On <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Essam<\/span>, Imarhan collaborated with French sound engineer <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Maxime Kosinetz,<\/span> who produced the album, and French multi-instrumentalist <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Emile Papandreou<\/span>. In their Tamanrasset studio, which doubles as a kind of music school and community center, they experimented with electronic synths and notes that could blend with assouf, sampling Imarhan\u2019s live percussion \u2014 such as traditional Tuareg instruments like the calabash and jerrycans \u2014 and processing them through a modular synthesizer.<\/p>\n<p>This collaboration could only have happened in the desert. \u201cTo play assouf, one has to be in the right environment,\u201d says Bouhasse. \u201cKosinetz and Papandreaou had to come to the desert to feel the atmosphere and play music together without any rush. It happened organically over a lot of time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rather than assouf being changed by the electronic influence, Bouhasse\u2019s description of the album\u2019s process paints a picture of electronic music finding inspiration in the nostalgia of desert blues and molding itself around guitar poetry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe process [of making a song] is always different, but usually it starts with something quite personal,\u201d says Bouhasse. \u201cFor example, [one of us] will go by himself to the desert and record some ideas on his phone. It could be lyrics or a melody. Then he shows it to the others, and we start working together on the song.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"8193b59d-bd2f-4db4-a4ca-5046dea1d257\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/3cUUNJPoQhs\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cTamiditin,\u201d track four of the album, is a love song written by Sadam. Over looped, pulsing electronic sounds that remind one of a quickly beating heart, and playful guitar chords, a man is thinking about the relationship with his far-away wife. It\u2019s a visceral song that will put a smile on your face, whether you understand its lyrics or not. There\u2019s a lightness in the guitar chords that opens up the chest. There\u2019s a sincerity and softness in Sadam\u2019s voice that makes the world stand still for six precious minutes as he sings \u201cMy dearest, I\u2019m so far away from you. I\u2019m just getting your news. \/At nightfall, my longing for you takes hold of me. \/When dusk appears, you haunt my thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"5816e774-b5f6-494b-9e52-2b42c7c29fbc\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/CKNp7Gdc7bY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>A Recipe for Assouf: Blending Tradition and Modernity<\/h2>\n<figure data-element-guid=\"1b56be6f-675b-4e35-9b84-87c7f380b8ef\" class=\"column small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content border-radius-8 border-radius-mobile_8\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"img fullwidthTarget\">\n            <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421612.webp?imageId=1421612&amp;width=2116&amp;height=1208&amp;format=webp\" width=\"1058\" height=\"604\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421612.webp?imageId=1421612&amp;width=2116&amp;height=1208&amp;format=jpg\" width=\"1058\" height=\"604\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421612.webp?imageId=1421612&amp;width=960&amp;height=548&amp;format=webp\" width=\"480\" height=\"274\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421612.webp?imageId=1421612&amp;width=960&amp;height=548&amp;format=jpg\" width=\"480\" height=\"274\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image.okayafrica.com\/1421612.webp?imageId=1421612&amp;width=960&amp;height=548&amp;format=jpg\" width=\"480\" height=\"274\" title=\"While they have built a lively community hub, the members of Imarhan are also noticing that younger generations are at risk of losing their traditions.\" alt=\"Five men wearing traditional Tuareg attire and turbans are standing in front of a white background, looking directly into the camera. Two of them are holding electric guitars over their heads.\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"\"\/><br \/>\n            <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n                    <\/div>\n<p><figcaption itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"\">While they have built a lively community hub, the members of Imarhan are also noticing that younger generations are at risk of losing their traditions.<\/figcaption><figcaption itemprop=\"author\" class=\"\" data-byline-prefix=\"Photo\">by Marie Planeille<\/figcaption><\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>How does Imarhan find the balance between experimenting with various genres and honoring assouf? \u201c[After 20 years of playing together] we know our style very well. It\u2019s like cooking, and we know how much salt to put into our music without it getting too salty,\u201d says Bouhasse.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe really tried to do something important, something that makes sense,\u201d he continues. \u201cI hope that this album can give courage to Tuareg bands, because it shows that it&#8217;s possible to mix our music with other styles. A lot of Tuareg bands are scared to move away from the traditional styles, but it&#8217;s okay to bring in new elements. [Essam is meant to] show the possibilities that you can have with Tuareg music today.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"0fb8a0cc-ccdb-46ea-a757-785473b65b7b\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/xtIP0lNS1Z0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fittingly, <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Essam<\/span> closes with \u201cAssagasswar,\u201d a song based on an old poem. Over simple guitar chords and the traditional tinde drum, Sadam and a choir sing the story of the mountains, which protect the city of Tamanrasset, talking to each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To the band, this album felt like a risk and a departure from their previous creations. While it experiments and ventures out, it always finds its way back to the source of its inspiration, taking listeners on a non-linear journey of stillness, movement, nostalgia, and joy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.okayafrica.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MUSIC The Tuareg veterans of the desert blues venture into new territory on their fourth studio album, exploring feelings of nostalgia and displacement through electronic soundscapes and synthesized rhythms. Imarhan are: guitarist and lead vocalist Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane aka Sadam, bassist Tahar Khaldi, guitarist Hicham Bouhasse, percussionist Haiballah Akhamouk, and guitarist Abdelkader Ourzig.by Marie [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2242971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2242970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tuareg-Desert-Blues-Meets-Electronic-Music.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2242970"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2242972,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242970\/revisions\/2242972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2242971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2242970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2242970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2242970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}