Jihane Bougrine’s debut release was a long time coming.
The six-song EP, Dima Labass, is an often upbeat and eclectic mix that reflects the multicultural melting pot of her native Morocco.
All sung in the Moroccan Arabic dialect of Darija, the songs traverse various styles including folk, reggae, RnB, soul music and bossa nova. Put all of that together and it paints a picture of singer-songwriter both adventurous and assured.
Another quality to add to that diverse mix is Bougrine's patience. Because if she didn't follow her instincts, Dima Labbas would have turned out rather differently.
"And it would have probably come out five years ago," Bougrine tells The National. She recalls agreeing to work with an acclaimed local producer (whom she won't name), with initial recordings taking place in 2015.
“We just had different ideas on how to approach it. The music sounded too modern and too slick. It didn’t sound like me at all,” she says. “So I basically cancelled everything and decided to produce it myself. I want my work to feel like it’s genuine and show people my sound.”
'There is a freedom here': the sounds of Morocco
That viewpoint is rather representative of Morocco’s vibrant independent music scene, one that is defined by its authenticity and curiosity, while retaining a deep respect for its heritage.
It is these ideals that lured Bougrine back to Morocco a decade ago. Born in Rabat, she relocated with her family to France as a toddler, only returning to the city for holidays.
The decision to resettle in her homeland was driven by a desire to explore her personal and creative roots.
“When it came to the music, I realised that it wasn’t working for me in France,” she says. “In my experience over there, the industry just judged me by my image and put me in this RnB box that I couldn’t escape. In Morocco, especially in the independent scene, there are really none of those rules. There is a freedom here to express and try new things.”
That bravery, Bougrine notes, was infectious.
It led her to the decision to ditch singing and writing songs in French, and instead embrace the Arabic language and Darija dialect.
"The idea of writing an Arabic song initially scared me, because there is a lot of history that goes with that," she says. "When we talk about Arabic songs, we are talking about the great singers like Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez. It took me a while to get over that feeling of heaviness when I first began writing music in Arabic."
A good way to arrest some of that tension, Bougrine realised, was to write in the Moroccan dialect. Not only did it feel more intimate but it also came with its own creative benefits.
“The dialect has a sing-song style. If you stand in a crowded street in Marrakesh or Casablanca and hear everyone talking, it almost sounds like music,” she says. “Darija has its own words and it has a certain rhythm. It really adds to the music.”
Songs with powerful meaning
It also allows some of Bougrine’s lyrics to hit harder.
The summery vibe of Dima Labass (a Darija phrase meaning "always fine") is occasionally punctured by darker material discussing societal dysfunction.
A case in point is the standout track Khelini Alik ("leave me in peace"), a driving rock-inspired number that addresses domestic violence in Morocco.
Released as a single on the eve of International Women’s Day (March 8), it arrived with a powerful video featuring Moroccan actress Faty El Jaouhari.
The track, with its key lyric of “you’re the only person who can save yourself", is Bougrine’s plea to her fellow Moroccans to discuss what is viewed as a taboo topic.
“It is a problem that we have here and a lot of the time it is because people are either too ashamed or scared to talk about it,” she says.
“While Morocco is extremely modern in many ways, there are still things that don’t make sense. Like this idea of not talking about violence at home because of how people will think of you.”
For the gipsy-folk rhythms of Madabya ("what if"), meanwhile, Bougrine celebrates the ethnic and cultural pluralism of Morocco.
“That is a song about hope, freedom, respect, love and dignity,” she says.
“I am from a diverse country where we are all different. Different in traditions, in the way of speaking, in culture and, of course, in the colour of our skin … so it was about cherishing that and being grateful and not taking it for granted.”
Take your time
Such important and rallying messages need to be heard far and wide. However, with the pandemic having shut down the Moroccan live music scene, Bougrine has had to make do with the occasional online performance on social media. While she says there are fun, she admits she is missing the stage.
Then again, biding her time is something she is used to.
“Concerts will be back eventually. Patience is key for a music artist. Because the industry is so fast paced and they want you to release things quickly. When you do that, a lot of times you won’t be happy with yourself,” she says.
“Sometimes it’s good to hold back and take your time and do your work with the respect it deserves.”
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BRIEF SCORES
England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
