10 questions for Karima El Fillali

Door Danny Veekens

Dutch-Moroccan singer Karima El Fillali brings different worlds together. Age-old Sufi poetry finds new meaning in a modern-day context, while sounds rooted in traditional Arabic music are combined with contemporary elements such as hip-hop production, electronic backing tracks, and Western classical music. During a hot spring day, sixty-plus people found their way to the Concertgemaal in Amsterdam-Noord for an intimate 24chambers concert. Together with a new line-up of musicians (on cello, percussion, qanun, electronica, flute, and bagpipe), Karima premiered brand new songs and kicked off a tour. After the mesmerizing performance, we asked her ten questions to get to know her better.

1. To those for whom Sufi poetry might feel like another world, how would you describe it?Like love poems, but they’re also very cosmic. So some Sufi poems are like love poems, while others are about particular concepts that are part of Sufism. Think of Sufism like the mystical side of Islam. Every religion has a mystical side—for example, think of Qabalah or Agnosticism. The essence of Sufism is universal. I think that’s beautiful. It’s about humanity, the cosmos, and to love and cherish.

2. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing for work or as a hobby?
Maybe I would be a pilates teacher. Or: an inventor. Yes, that’s it! I would invent all sorts of products and bring them onto the market.

3. In a previous press release, you mentioned being influenced by artists like Umm Kulthum, Portishead, Cypress Hill, and Björk. Those are very diverse sources of inspiration. Can you explain how each of them has influenced your music?
Umm Kulthum because of her voice. The way she uses her voice is very powerful. She doesn’t force herself to try to sound beautiful; she stays very true to the way her voice sounds. Also, how Umm Kulthum uses improvisation within a song is incredible; that’s what I love most about her music. Portishead and Cypress Hill are influential because of the production of their music. Mostly for Bihar El Hawa, my debut EP that I made with Kaveh Vares and SENSE [producer Daniël Tiuri Wils]. The subtle sounds, the analogue tape effects, the hip-hop influences, and the beats. And Björk’s music represents freedom and openness to me.

4. You perform in different lineups, with various instruments. What was this 24chambers concert like for you?
It was a lot of fun, but at the same time, it was quite intense because so much was new. We played with a new drummer and cellist who were both incredible. The type of location [Concertgemaal] was completely new as well. Because of the setting, I could see the audience, which was nice, but that was also something I had to get used to. On a big stage, you don’t see the audience—you’re looking into pitch-black darkness, so to speak. During the 24chambers concert, I could see when someone was moving along with the music or so. You see everything in a setting like this. That’s a lot to take in. Don’t get me wrong: I also liked that. It made the performance very personal and intimate, with a beautiful audience and a beautiful venue.

5. If you could have a coffee with any musician or composer, who would it be, and what would you want to ask them?
I think Hans Zimmer. To ask him why I haven’t been asked yet for one of the films he’s composing for. [Laughs] If anyone knows Hans, please ask him. [Laughs] Kidding, I’m very happy with my own composer.

6. Who do you see as a musical mentor, and what did that person teach you?
My qanun player, Jamil Al Asadi, is a musical mentor to me. He taught me to neatly do things, and not show off. To stay true to music, to respect and honour that. He showed me the importance of doing justice to each and every note, instead of showing off how you can sing.

7. What’s your musical guilty pleasure?
I don’t think I have any. Mariah Carey isn’t a guilty pleasure, right? Or maybe Toto’s “Africa”? I don’t know if that counts as a guilty pleasure.

8. You’ve previously performed using 4D Sound. How does that enrich your Sufi poetry?
You truly create an experience and a magical world. That really adds to the Sufi poetry.

9. Which song gives you a nostalgic sense of ‘home’, and why?
That instantly makes me think of “Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten” [by Wim Sonneveld]. I used to listen to that in the car. That song always makes me feel nostalgic.

10. What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received as an artist?
Don’t try to sing beautifully. Just sing.

Join Karima’s next 24chambers concert, check out the dates and request an invitation to our guest list.
24classics flips the script on classical music. 24chambers concerts are curated intimate performances at a secret location featuring musicians who explore classical music’s expansive nature, breaking traditional perceptions. To join a 24chambers concert request an invitation to our guest list. The guest list is open for everyone – although Kleine Vrienden are first in line.

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