INTERVIEW: Malika Zarra’s new album captures her musical ‘Essence’
Photo: Malika Zarra’s new album is called RWA. Photo courtesy of Gabriela Cais Burdmann / Provided by Cindy Bryam PR with permission.
The accomplished singer-songwriter Malika Zarra, one of the world’s most respected jazz vocalists, recently released her third studio album and will offer fans a chance to hear the new tunes Friday, May 26 at Joe’s Pub in New York City as part of the Habibi Festival. The recording is called RWA, an Amazigh (Berber) word that is pronounced “AR wah” and translated means “essence,” which seems entirely appropriate for Zarra’s deeply personal album. The songs were recorded in collaboration with musicians from 10 different countries and features singing in Darija (the Arabic dialect specific to Morocco), Amazigh, French and Malagasy.
On the album, listeners have the opportunity to travel with Zarra to Morocco, the place of her family’s roots. She also lived a large part of her life in France and then almost two decades ago relocated to the United States, specifically New York City, according to her official biography. In recent years, she returned to France, by way of Casablanca, Morocco. All of these geographic locations offered inspiration for the new album.
RWA follows her earlier recording efforts: 2006’s On the Ebony Road and 2011’s Berber Taxi, and she has been involved in numerous collbaorations with other artists, including Sofía Rei and Arturo O’Farrill. The new recording features songs such as “Feen,” “Loukt,” “Ouhelt” and “Dreamer.” The lyrical message of this album, according to press notes, is to “question the delusions of our world, in particular the borders erected to curb the movement of humans since the dawn of time.”
Recently Zarra exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about RWA and her upcoming Joe’s Pub concert. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
Why was it important for you to name the album RWA (The Essence)?
I have been looking for some time for a term in Amazigh that could express that, the most important thing in a person’s life, wherever they come from, it’s their quintessence, their essence, their dignity. And finally what contributes to the construction of a person. It’s much more than just a geographical location. It’s the diversity of people he or she could meet throughout their lives.
“Rwa” (pronounced AR wah) is an old Amazigh verb which expresses the gathering of a tribe, a group of people who come together to help one of their own to extract an essence, an oil from a seed, etc.
How personal is this album?
It’s a very dear album to me because it corresponds to a moment in my life when I wanted to fulfill a longstanding dream to live in Morocco for a while and to have my daughter. … I really wanted to return to my family’s roots. It took me a lot of time and resources to get to the end of it. This album traveled and matured with me in New York, then in Casablanca and Agadir, and finally in Paris.
Why is it important to collaborate with other artists? Is that always an easy endeavor?
It was the concept of this album to collaborate with other artists. Among other things, collaborating with Moroccan female authors was a way of getting closer to what represents — for me — the matrix, the roots of the African continent. Also it is a challenge to let go and trust your collaborators, but it’s the best way to grow. It’s a plus for everyone.
What inspired the song “Feen”?
Like all the songs on the album, this one was composed in Morocco. What first inspired me was to see (and live) on a daily basis the injustice forced on a majority of people, a majority who are completely dependent on a ruling minority. They have to beg for authorization of a simple universal right. For example, a minority of people who, after a huge exploitation of a territory, decide that the people who are on this same territory cannot move as they wish and must beg for permission for a simple universal right “to move, walk, breathe wherever they want”!
Was it difficult being away from your fans during the pandemic?
I really missed sharing music — with other musicians on stage, with the audience. And by the way, I am so excited to present my new music May 26 in New York at Joe’s Pub. I will have an amazing band, amazing musicians! Can’t wait!
What are you most looking forward to in the years ahead?
Peace! More live performances, new projects, new collaborations in different continents!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Malika Zarra’s new album is RWA. She will perform at Joe’s Pub in New York City on Friday, May 26. Click here for more information and tickets.
