The Algerian singer-songwriter Nedjim Bouizzoul, frontman of the trio Labess, is known for his masterful guitar playing, poetic lyrics, and messages of human connection across differences. The trio’s sound is also a meeting point of musical styles: rumba, flamenco, and traditional North African music come together in Labess’s warm and heartfelt sound. On the night, you can also experience DJ Spincycle’s dubbed, club-infused, and psychedelic soundscapes.

DJ SpinCycle
Amarrass Records label co-founder, music producer, recording engineer and radio jockey Ankur Malhotra aka DJ SpinCycle is an avid musicologist who explores, engages, and connects with musical traditions from around the world. Over two decades of crate-digging esoteric sounds on vinyl from around the world, DJ SpinCycle presents recontextualized field recordings, obscure sounds and patterns, reimagined and reinterpreted for the dance floor. Featuring two turntables, a mixer and a crate load of wax, creating layers of dubby, clubby, psychedelic sounds!

Labess
Labess’ frontman, the Algerian singer-songwriter Nedjim Bouizzoul, is known for his outstanding guitar playing and his moving lyrics. Whether he sings in his native Arabic, in French, or in Spanish, the presence of the man behind the words is unmistakable. Nedjim Bouizzoul, who emigrated from Algeria to Canada as a child, spent a few years in Colombia and now lives in France, sings about exile and moving from place to place. He asks, “Who am I?”, while simultaneously insisting on connection — on the idea that humanity must find ways to live together across differences. All of this is what makes Labess a musical encounter filled with hope.

Labess’ sound is a meeting of musical genres. Rumba blends flamenco and traditional North African musical such as gnawa and chaâbi. The result is heartwarming and stirring, much like Labess’ latest album, ‘Dima’, released last year. Labess translates to something like “all is well” in Arabic, a phrase that perfectly captures what we expect from the upcoming concert with Nedjim Bouizzoul and the other members of the Labess trio: To be brought together by music.