Afropop sensation Noura Mint Seymali at Artisphere this Friday

Given Rosslyn's place in cosmopolitan world culture, Afropop sensation Noura Mint Seymali has chosen to perform at Artisphere in Rosslyn.  Seymali and her husband combine an extraordinary range of musical influences:

Unique among the “desert blues” music that is emerging mostly from Mali, Noura Mint Seymali’s band presents a unique interpretation of traditional Mauritanian music. Noura’s success stems from her ability to combine a rare classical mastery and a griot’s cultural authority with musical idioms that speak to the emergent realities of youth culture in West Africa and beyond. Composing for an ensemble with traditional instruments at its core—ardine (harp), tidinit (lute), and t’beul (bowl drum)— and fortified by Western bass and drum-set, Noura employs the instruments and modal structures essential to Moorish tradition while simultaneously delivering ideas within the format of the pop song.

Noura’s husband Jeiche Ould Chighaly, who is the guitarist for the band, is influenced by western musicians such as Dire Straits and Jimi Hendrix, infusing both funk and psychedelic into their music. Noura cites Etta James as an influence and in her singing you can hear multiple influences, reggae, flamenco and rock.

Seymali is playing only this Friday night at Artisphere.  Tickets are $18.