JUNE 27-29, 2024 ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO

SAM 29 JUIN

MEHDI NASSOULI

Artist

BIOGRAPHY

MEHDI NASSOULI

Mehdi Nassouli is exceptionally gifted, talented and passionate, and one of the most eclectic artists of his generation. Born in Taroudant, Mehdi soaked up the town’s brotherhood traditions at an early age, taking its rhythms to heart. His first school was his family, who introduced him to Gnaoua culture, rhythms and trances, but his musical curiosity took him to the school of Malhoune. He also sought initiation into the ancestral art form of Deqqa, part of Roudani culture, where he learned from several different maâlems. He would go on to spend years with other Gnaoua schools, guided and supported in his apprenticeship by the great Maâlems of Morocco (Abdelkbir Merchane, Mustapha Baqbou, Abdeslam Alikkane). He has since performed on stages around the world in the context of artistic residencies and international collaborations. He has been invited to share the stage and tour with many world-renowned artists such as Titi Robin, with whom he toured for 8 years, Benjamin Tobkin, Omar Sosa, Andy Emler, Karim Ziad, Hindi Zahra, Para one, Nneka, Justin Adams, and Alpha Blondy. Following the release of his first album Taroudant, Mehdi is currently working on a second album with special guests.