Fatoumata Diawara recently concluded a US tour featuring music from her debut album, Fatou. The Malian-raised, Parisian singer/songwriter made stops across the country, including NYC, where she performed at Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. There, Diawara spoke with NBC 4 New York’s Nonstop Sound about her tour, her time in the city, and her strong connection to the cultural traditions of Mali. Watch the piece here.
Fatoumata Diawara, whose debut album, Fatou, was released in North America in August on World Circuit / Nonesuch Records, recently concluded a tour of the United States featuring music from the new album. The Malian-raised, Parisian singer/songwriter, whom MOJO calls a "spell-weaving new voice," made stops across the country, including New York City, where she and her band performed at Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. Backstage at the venue, Diawara spoke with NBC 4 New York’s Nonstop Sound about her tour, her time in the city, and her strong connection to the cultural traditions of her home country of Mali. Watch the interview, including clips from the concert, below.
On her debut album, Fatoumata Diawara uses elements of jazz, pop, and funk along with her ancestral Wassoulou tradition. John Paul Jones, Toumani Diabate, and Tony Allen all make guest appearances on the album. Uncut gives Fatou four stars; Pitchfork calls it "beguiling." The Washington Post says "her well-crafted songs are quietly powerful." To pick up a copy of Fatou on CD, MP3, and lossless FLAC, head the Nonesuch Store, where CD orders include a download of the complete album at checkout.
Watch Fatoumata Diawara on NBC 4 New York’s Nonstop Sound here:
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