Mdou Moctar
| Mdou Moctar | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | M.dou Mouktar |
| Born | Niger |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupations | musician |
| Instruments | guitar, vocals, synth |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Sahel Sounds |
Mdou Moctar (also known as M.dou Mouktar) is a Tuareg songwriter and musician from Tchintabaraden[1] and Abalak,[2] Niger. His music typically uses guitar, drum machine, and Tamasheq lyrics.[3] He is a popular wedding performer and sings about love and peace.[4]
Mdou Moctar first became famous through a subtle network of cellphones and memory cards in West Africa.[5]
Albums
His first album was recorded in Sokoto, Nigeria and prominently featured autotuned vocals.[5] The album was never officially released but the songs became hugely popular across the Sahel when they went viral through cell-phone music trading networks.[6][7][5] They reached a global audience when Sahel Sounds released his music on the Music from Saharan Cellphones: Volume 1 compilation. Two songs were covered with English homophone lyrics by Brainstorm, an American band from Portland, Oregon.[8]
His next album, Afelan, was recorded live in Tchintabaraden with no autotune. The title track is named after a celebrated historical/folkloric hero of the Azawough of Western Niger.[9] It contains a cover of "Chet Boghassa" by Tinariwen.
Films
Mdou appeared in the short film I Sing the Desert Electric.[10]
He also has the starring role in the forthcoming film Akounak Teggdalit Taha Tazoughai, which translates as "Rain the Color of Red with a Little Blue In It".[11][12] It tells the story of a musician from Agadez, who struggles with competing artists, a difficult home life, romantic problems and his own internal strife; whilst riding around the desert on a purple motorcycle.[13][14] The film is a homage to Purple Rain and The Harder They Come; and is influenced by Moi, un noir, Jean Rouch, Italian neorealism and overty row films.[15] It is the world's first feature film in a Tuareg language, specifically a mixture of dialects from Aïr and Azawagh.[16][17]
Discography
Albums
- Afelan (2013)
Singles
Compilation appearances
- Music from Saharan Cellphones: Volume 1 (2010)[20]
- Music For Saharan Cellphones (2011)[21]
- The Mdou Moctar Covers (2012) (split with Brainstorm)[22]
- Music from Saharan Cellphones: Volume 2 (2013)[23]
References
- ↑ "Audio: Mdou Moctar & Brainstorm ‘Anar/Vanessa’". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Music from Saharan Cellphones". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar, Desert Warrior". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar, musicien touareg du Niger". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "tahoultine, chopped and skyped". Sahel Sounds. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ↑ "Audio: Mdou Moctar & Brainstorm ‘Anar/Vanessa’". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar – ‘Anar’ (Official Video)". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "of love and eyebrows". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "sahel vinyl". Sahel Sounds. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ↑ "i sing the desert electric (download)". Sahel Sounds. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar - Akounak Teggdalit Taha Tazoughai TEASER". Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar protagoniza un nuevo filme documental: “Rain the Color of Red with a Little Blue In It”". conceptaradio. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ↑ "http://www.conceptoradio.net/2013/11/13/sahel-sounds-algunos-artistas-africanos-nunca-han-visto-un-vinilo/". conceptoradio. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ↑ Singer, Matthew (14). "Kickstart My Heart: Portland Blogger To Direct First-Ever Tuareg-Language Film in West Africa". Williamette Week. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ↑ Kirkley, Christopher. "Akounak: The feature film of a Tuareg guitarist in Agadez". kickstarter. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar - Akonak (TEASER TRAILER 2)". Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ Kirkley, Christopher. "rain the color of blue with a little red in it". sahel sounds. sahel sounds. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ↑ "Tahoultine". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Mdou Moctar/Brainstorm on Sahel Sounds Records". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Music For Saharan Cellphones Vol.2 crowdfunding LP release". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Music For Saharan Cellphones". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "The Mdou Moctar Covers". Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "Music from Saharan Cellphones: Volume 2". Retrieved 15 June 2013.