The artist, who has defiantly performed in treacherous places despite threats from authorities, is making history with her all-female team behind the production of her new album.
“Nar” means fire in Arabic and that is exactly what Tunisian musician, songwriter and activist, Emel Mathlouthi, brings with her latest single. The following music video shows Emel encompassed by women; her colleagues, friends and fellow soldiers. “I am a soldier, I am a fighter, I am a bullet,” she sings in English and further covers topics of freedom and empowerment in the Tunisian language as well.
For the single, Emel teamed up with Mali’s first female Mandinka rapper, Ami Yerewolo, and speaking of the track she says that it’s “about taking back control of our lives, our story, our colour, our word. We’re building an army to take back women’s voices.“
After captivating her native audience in Tunisia she started performing around the world, at Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Additionally, and defiantly, she has performed on stages in Palestine and Iran which, according to this Vogue article, she describe as a “turning point” for her.
“Performing in Palestine last summer, which is so hard to get into, meant the world to me because you meet people who just want to live life like everybody else. They just want to go to a concert and be happy… Their resilience was inspiring. Despite everything they’ve been through, they really teach you about life. It marked a turning point for me.”
Emel’s new album, MRA, will drop later this month and based on the latest single we’re all in for a treat.
