Souad Massi

Souad Massi has a golden voice and a sparkling talent. She has invented a delicately harmonious Algerian folk-rock based on humanist and sensitive lyrics.
Born in Algiers on 23 August 1972, Souad is from a family of artists. She knew she would be a singer from an early age. As a little girl with a strong voice she studied classical Arab-Andalusian music, music theory and universal classical music. These years of study have made her into a rigorous composer with a keen sense of instrumentation.
Since the age of seventeen she performed on stage after stage, just her with her guitar. Simultaneously she played with a flamenco group "Les Trianas d'Alger". A complete failure which left her tempted to give up music altogether. Urged by her brother to go on, she took up her guitar and developed her own style. Soon the radios began to invite her onto their shows, then the television. The beginning of her career.
With her group "Atakor" she began to tour throughout the country. Their first cassette was released in 1997 with record sales while their video clips were also regularly shown on the television. The only problem was that for certain members of society Souad was too popular, too militant, too free. So they tried to stop her. "But I couldn't remain indifferent to what was going on around me". The answer was obvious, she continued. During her concerts, she would systematically invite someone from the audience onto the stage in order to voice their opinion. Moments often censured, but "at least it's for the 800 people at the concert". No hint of demagogy, Souad Massi is above all motivated by a deep respect for democracy and freedom.
The situation became more and more difficult for Souad. The urban planning office where she worked (she studied engineering) was forced to fire her. She was left in great difficulty, both materially and psychologically, leaving her close to abandoning everything. Which is when she was invited to take part in the Paris festival "Femmes d'Algérie".
Souad arrived in France on 10 January 1999. The festival brought together Algerian women from all generations and regions, united in their fight for freedom. It became both a party and a combat against all fundamentalisms.
Paris discovered Souad Massi and was charmed by her voice and ability to communicate her emotion regardless of language.
The Mondomix team decided to help. A few weeks after the end of the festival, they took a recording of her performance to the R&A director at Island Records. Against all odds, he gave the young artist a free hand. In perfect harmony with Souad's musical and poetic universe, he asked Bob Coke (Ben Harper's arranger) to make the record.
The result was a superb first album with various styles (folk, chaâbi, rock…), reflecting the many facets of the singer while building a coherent voyage through her songs.
While recording Souad Massi continued to tour extensively, supporting groups such as Orchestre National de Barbès, Thierry Titi Robin, Geoffrey Oreyma… and above all Idir.

Magali Bergès

Artist website