BBC - Radio 3 - Awards for World Music 2005

SOUAD MASSI (ALGERIA)

Full track details

The end of Ramadan is always a time of festive joy in the Muslim world, but back in January 1999 it had special significance. It was in that month that a young and beautiful singer/songwriter from the suburbs of Algiers made her first appearance outside her native land, at the 'Women of Algeria' festival in Paris. The songs she sang in front of her rapt audience spoke of love, war, hatred, peace, brutality, hope and despair, and they were delivered with an arresting simplicity and honesty, adorned only with a pick and a strum on an acoustic guitar.

The unforced tears that rolled down Souad Massi's cheeks that evening were mute and yet effective proof of the immense emotional struggle that she had waged in the preceding years, to survive in the murderous mire of 1990s Algeria, as a woman, a singer and an intelligent soul. During that brief one hour set an immense build up of emotional pressure was released. News of Saoud's evident talents as a songwriter and a singer spread fast and before too long she was offered a deal by Island Records in France. She went into the studio with producer Bob Coke, famed for his work with Ben Harper, and recorded "Raoui", a collection of songs full of guileless power and tender ferocity. It went on to sell more than 100,000 copies.

Souad broke the Algerian music mould. She was neither a rai singer, a berber songstress, an Arabic diva or a classical andalusian virtuoso from an academy. With her tom boy tendencies she had fallen in love with westerns like 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly', at an early age and this had led to a deep affinity with American folk and country, especially the music of Emmylou Harris and Kenny Rodgers. To that she later added a vivacious appreciation of heavy metal, black American soul, flamenco and, of course, the popular street music or chaabi of Algiers itself. All of these loves have found a place in her music. But her language remains Arabic, and her themes continue to mix the deeply personnal with the chillingly universal, the warm interior of her soul with the cold winds of modern life.

Her latest album "Deb" has reaped even more praise than "Raoui", especially in North America where she is one of the most successful non-English or Spanish speaking artists of the past year.

Ivan Chrysler (courtesy of fRoots)

Deb album review
Full concert audio from WOMAD 2004
Souad Massi official website

Your Comments

Roman, Poland
One November rainy morning I was listenig Souad's music for the first time. I will never forget that day.

badis london
it's a big joy to listen to you,raoui-deb-meskelil all great. and when it came from an algerian muslim girl it make me fly in the sky love you so much,wich you all the best.god bless you and your daugter and husband,
NEVER FORGOT YOU ORIGIN badis(london)

Amed from Finland
Your are doing a greit work:) I love your style of music and voice also is wonderful. continue and I´m sure you will get all the success you wish for. Good luck.

Boviç, Fribourg Switzerland
Jocelynn i love how u sing things.

mchehrazede, Algeria
We used to have guitar courses Souad and i at the same school in Algiers,and i discovered in her a great talent and a good personality inside. I am writting and composing in the same style,souad whenever you read this message, please do contact at my e-mail adress because i can offer you a very lovely folk songs that i've been working on during all these years, songs in arabic-frensh and english. Souad, go ahead and good luck for your future.

esther hacohen, israel
By the name of so many israelies of all religions we are truly hoping you will tour ISRAEL soon. ESTHER ,israel

Musaed AL-Kuwaiti
I can say she is the most singer with a great message to the world. & as i'm a copuser i see suad like an angel sent to relise the world from the world,,,

Nina Duran
You go girl! As we would say here in the States. Souad's mesmerizing voice is deeply and genuinely touching. We were introduced to her amazing talent through an independent sat channel here in the U.S. Souad's songs are reflective of her deep and sensitive ability to brilliantly articulate her thoughts through her lovely music. She is a truly a breath of fresh air in a land of superficial and uninspiring music as we are inundated with here in America.Please have one of our main U.S. based music channels here carry your music-VH1 would do you justice and give our fellow Americans a much needed alternative talent to appreciate. Unfortunately, MTV is too shallow and commercial for Souad's beautiful music. THANK YOU SOUAD FOR YOUR AWESOME MUSIC AND PLEASE TOUR THE U.S. SOON! We would welcome you warmly! Nina Duran - Maryland, USA

Samia from Boston USA
Your outstanding "Mesk elil" song just sweep me away to my beloved country ...Algeria... Bravo Souad..

ester ,hacohen ,israel
the music of suad and her voice goes straight to the heart, stommach , blood system and finally touches the soul in a very unique/ rare way . suad you are sooooo loved here in israel. an artist like you is a diamond in the middle east .

Adel, Rouiba, Algeria
a beautiful voice and beautiful songs give up again

Axel, Sweden
I was lucky enough to catch Souad live last night; she's a muse! a godess!

Hazem ALI, SYRIA
Suad ,we love you very much in Syria. Please come to Syria

Rob C, USA
I only speak a very little Arabic, but I understand her very well through the content of the music. You can feel the connection without understanding the language. She also helps bring connect the music of the Arab culture to other forms, such as Flamenco. WONDERFUL!!

Karen Neumann - Israel
Wonderful music! Muched loved in Israel, Jews and Arabs.

Jennifer, Memphis TN
Absolutely fantastic! Best album I have heard in years! I am stuck in a city that sucks so I have no chance to see her perform. Does anyone know if she is coming to the US again?

karim philadelphia, usa
wonderful music and excellent tone from this beatiful singer from algeria

Ela, Poland
Beautiful music, every tone is passionate and touching. Tremendous record.

saba abdulkarim -Arce iraqi from CA USA
souad's voice is sweet,tender,and full of (HANEEN),My vote for her.

Nasrallah husam, Israel
Exelint clever nice music, I love this women. husam

Charlie, Southampton
I had the privilege to see Souad Massi play in Brighton early last year, and then in New york in November. It's not often that a CD stays absolute top of my list for one month, let alone fifteen. she is brilliant, and her band is so good.

Mona Hosseini
Absolutely stunning! SOUAD MASSI is my favourite singer and musician from this list.

Mariana Juliette, USA
I agree with Andreev, I am also from Bulgaria and I love the music of Ivo Papasov, but I agree that Suad Massi is amazing and her music is extremly spiritual!

tahar (tunisien) live in bulgaria
souad, i vote for you

Andreev, Budapest & London
Although I would like to support my Bulgarian co-national Ivo Papasov (as well), I can not fail to admit that Souad Massi is awesome. She deserves this award!

Richard Dorrell
It's true- her voice could wring emotion even from a telephone directory! Plus (given the number of unsuccessful prior nominations) the indefatigability of her appearances on the shortlist surely puts her in line for this award...