Mdou Moctar presents his newest single, “Tumastin,” from the upcoming full length, Ilana: The Creator (out 3/29 on Sahel Sounds). A departure from the high energy wedding rock synonymous with Tuareg guitar, “Tumastin” further showcases Mdou’s versatility, in what might be the first of its kind of Saharan shoegaze. Singing with ghostly reverbed vocals over echoing-with-whammy wow and fluttering guitars, Mdou sounds a plaintive note for his “Tumastin,” or “people back home.” Nostalgic with a steady loping drum crash, it ends in dreamy, Julie Cruise-inspired reprieve.
LISTEN TO “TUMASTIN”
https://youtu.be/kqaHGTQpoTY
The song is premiered in conjunction with an interview with Stereogum, who today named Mdou an “Artist to Watch,” making him, by our count, the first Tuareg guitarist to be named as such.
Don’t miss Mdou on tour this Spring, as he brings his electrifying shows to our continent.
“TUMASTIN” LYRICS
My people are dispersed
across different countries
It hurts my heart
With such pain
it stops the blood
from running in my veins
For me
it is my heart that pains me
with a deep sadness
as I pity the women
who live in the desert
Look at the other countries
And look at the world before us
The men don’t sleep
but work hard
To bring the women
into the shade
What a beautiful idea
PRAISE FOR “KAMANE TARHANIN”
“It’s easy to imagine the breadth of Mocatar’s musical influences. [‘Kamane Tarhanin’] is a droning, hypnotic, and psychedelic meditation.” – NPR Music
“blistering and gritty psych rock” – Stereogum
“While nothing captures the live Mdou Moctar experience, this is as close as I’ve heard.”
– Afropop Worldwide
MDOU MOCTAR TOUR DATES
Thu. March 28 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Andy Warhol Museum
Fri. March 29 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class
Sat. March 30 – Detroit, MI @ Trinosophes
Sun. March 31 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
Mon. April 1 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revifval – Sanctuary
Tue. April 2 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
Wed. April 3 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
Thu. April 4 – Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle
Fri. April 5 – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Psych Festival
Sat. April 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
Sun. April 7 – Omaha, NE @ Pageturners Lounge
Mon. April 8 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
Tue. April 9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Wed. April 10 – Garden City, ID @ Visual Arts Collective
Fri. April 12 – Olympia, WA @ Octapas
Sat. April 13 – Portland, OR @ Star Theater
Sun. April 14 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Tue. April 16 – Felton, CA @ Flynn’s Cabaret
Thu. April 18 – Oakland, CA @ Red Bay Coffee
Fri. April 19 – Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
Sat. April 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
Sun. April 21 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
Mon. April 22 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
Tue. April 23 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister
Thu. April 25 – Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas
Fri. April 26 – Lafayette, LA @ Festival International de Louisiane
Sat. April 27 – Lafayette, LA @ Festival International de Louisiane
Sun. April 28 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Tue. April 30 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
Fri. June 28 – Sun. June 30 – North Adams, MA @ Solid Sound Festival
Pre-order Ilana (The Creator) –
https://mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com/album/ilana-the-creator
Hi-res images, album art & bio available here: http://pitchperfectpr.com/mdou-moctar/
Mdou Moctar Online:
https://mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com/
https://sahelsounds.com/mdou-moctar/
https://www.facebook.com/mdoumoctarofficial/
Keep your mind open.
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