Artist: Nawal
Title: Embrace The Spirit
Label: JADE/WARNER MUSIC
Genre: Comoros Island “sufi” folk music

Recommended by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Nawal comes from the Comoros Islands, in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar. Now based in Paris she is recognized as a key figure from her native islands. Between traditional and contemporary, Nawal’s compositions are an acoustic roots-based fusion, inspired by the light of her Sufi heritage founded on love, respect and peace. When live in concert, Nawal’ powerful voice and message is able to touch her audience’s hearts.

Embrace the Spirit is Nawal’s second self-produced album, which is about honoring peace and human dignity. She’s accompanied by Melissa Cara Rigoli on mbira dzavadzimu and percussion, and Idriss Mlanao on warm-toned, sure footed contrabass. They create an eclectic sonic soundscape. Some of the songs are dedicated to the recent uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East. Nawal sings about the suffering people in Zimbabwe. Her compositions touch the soul and embrace the spirit – thoughts and words disappear, and make way for meditation, introspection and inner peace. In the song “Shalom Aleikoum” (watch video below) she expresses “before a sea of tears will drown the children of Abraham, I pray you to drop your weapons.”

Besides being a singer Nawal plays also gambusi (Comoran lute), harmonic flute, mbira (Zimbabwean thumb piano), daf (Iranian frame drum) as well as other instruments. She’s touring now the US with her quartet from September 15 to October 8, 2011. She is accompanied by piano, percussion and vocals. Her current group includes members with origins from Madagascar, Togo and France.