{"id":15122,"date":"2017-04-09T22:21:01","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T03:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bostonsurvivalguide.net\/wordpress\/?p=15122"},"modified":"2017-04-12T22:45:23","modified_gmt":"2017-04-13T03:45:23","slug":"introducing-tunisian-singer-songwriter-and-activist-emel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bostonsurvivalguide.net\/wordpress\/2017\/04\/introducing-tunisian-singer-songwriter-and-activist-emel\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Tunisian singer-songwriter and activist Emel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Emel

Photo: Alex + Iggy<\/p><\/div>\n

Tunisian musician Emel Mathlouthi<\/a><\/strong>, known as Emel, is a visceral artist who prefers that you connect with her music on a purely emotional level, rather than study it in depth. But it is nearly impossible not to want to translate and analyze her Arabic words, once you know her story. With her unique blend of traditional Tunisian acoustic music, electronic beats and fiercely independent lyrics, her work gained widespread recognition after she recorded “Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)” in 2007 and it became an anthem of the Arab Spring. She found herself being called “the voice of the Tunisian revolution” and was invited to perform at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.<\/p>\n

On Ensen<\/a><\/strong>, her second album, she incorporates diverse musical styles, with influences such as Joan Baez, Massive Attack, Bj\u00c3\u00b6rk and Egyptian protest singer Sheikh Imam<\/a><\/strong>. The album, released in February on Little Human \/ Partisan Records<\/a><\/strong>, was recorded across seven countries on two continents with several producers. This included her primary collaborator, French\/Tunisian producer Amine Metani and Valgeir Sigur\u00c3\u00b0sson (Bj\u00c3\u00b6rk, Sigur Ros). The music has an expansive, cinematic feel that accompanies Emel’s powerful, heartfelt vocals.<\/p>\n

Here is the official video for “Ensen Dhaif (Human, Helpless Human).”<\/p>\n