Awa Ly

Three vowels and two consonants, such a singing, suave unity: Awa Ly’s name is already harmonious, a musical vocation. As a child, Awa used to sing by instinct, from a natural order, and never thought of turning it into a career. The idea occured later, although the young lady seemed destined to become a brilliant producer. We can’t cheat destiny: the same way Awa had left France in a heart bit, to settle in Rome, she will not hesitate to dive, head first, into an artistic path. Acting from time to time, she decides to dedicate herself solely to music and records a first EP titled Awa Ly in 2014. Her blending of folk, jazz and world music seduces, as well in France as in Italy, and the live shows keep on going. After her residency at the Sunset, one of Paris biggest jazz clubs, she went on a new creative process that led to the release of the album Five and Feathers, in 2016, directed by Jean Lamoot and Pascal Danaé (Rivière Noire «Black River», Delgrès ...). Performed in English, revealed with the single Here (featuring Faada Freddy, who is, like her, of Senegalese descent), this record gave Awa the opportunity to go on a tour of over 100 dates through Germany, Italy , Senegal, Morocco and Cape Verde, not to mention France, with an mindblowing show in Café de la Danse that has left each of her viewer in awe till this day. Attentive to her audience and to the energies that flow between musicians and spectators, Awa shows a generosity and passion on stage that no one can resist. Resulting from a long maturation, this new album marks an important step in the career of that genuine artist of a rare sensitivity. Not that it goes against the aesthetics she had previously embraced ; on the contrary, it deepens it even more, with even a stronger presence and assurance. When talking about the record, Awa evokes a "tribal atmosphere, both mysterious and mystical" inspired first by nature, the roots, the earth. The lyrics keep coming back: the sun, the moon, the sea, the wind, the sky, the rites, the prayers, the tears, the possessions and exorcisms recall a body grappling with a huge and generous natural mysticism. Acoustic folk is enriched with blues, hypnotic metrics and shallow but deep complaints. And the companions who know the road and its infinity, hardship and comfort, are also surveyors, sorcerers, weavers of mysteries. While Delgrès tags along Awa's almost liturgical scansions : What Goes Around, Arthur H responds with his rocky voice in Are You Satisfied. Among the other collaborators of this record produced by Polérik Rouvière, we count Piers Faccini, who offered a text to the singer, Anne Paceo, genius drummer whose groove knowledge accompanies Now or Never, and guitarist Moh Kouyaté, who gives Ahead some Touareg accents. Finally, a string quartet embraces, for the first time, Awa’s vibrant voice, more serious, more thoughtful and introspective than it had been until now, without losing an ounce of its sensuality. It looks like a double progression took place with this new album, more roots and more sophisticated than Five and a Feather. This is not a paradox, rather a subtle alliance between opposites that was just craving balance. Awa Ly knows that simplicity does not equal ease and that elegance can get lost in complexity, or in the search for demarcation at all cost. She finds her needs for music by being perfectly transparent with herself ; just giving her whole to others. Therefore, we can presumed that this new repertoire will be an opportunity for this great stage artist to communicate even more closely with her audience. Awa Ly’s songs are not meant to just be listened. In order to grasp the deepest truth, one must see the way she becomes one with them, discover the natural choreography of her hands, the gestures and movements. You must also see her create that magic of her own, made from sharing, sweet kindness, optimism and faith in humanity. No one, after getting in touch with her music, ever leaves without feeling more peaceful, soothed by the relief of a sincere emotion.