Rabat - U.S. Soul singer Pharell Williams is at it again. After his global hit single "Happy" overtook the Internet and became the viral dance craze of 2013, he has just released his follow up “Freedom.”

Pharell William’s “Happy” video led to a worldwide craze of remixes, commercials and mega fame. Although it's hard to imagine his follow up, which was just released two weeks ago, being any bigger than "Happy, it's making an impressive run on YouTube with more than 4 millions of views already.

Unlike William’s previous songs, “Freedom” seems a protesting song. It demands freedom in its every incarnation. Fitting with the song's title, the video presents a series of scenes of what freedom looks like around the world.

Multiple American media reports suggested that "Freedom" may be Williams' most direct and powerful protest statement to date.

Last year, Williams' "Happy" has been highly successful, peaking at No. 1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and 19 other countries.

The music video was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In the week ending April 11, 2015, it dropped out of the official UK top 75 chart after 70 consecutive weeks. A live rendition of the song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

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By Youssef Igrouane

Meknes -  On July 22, 2015, Moroccan singer Hind Tahiri Laroussi released a new song, “Salam Salam”, to demonstrate peaceful values, tolerance and do away with hatred.

Hind Tahiri Laroussi, a  31-year-old Moroccan singer in the Netherlands, born to a Moroccan father and a Dutch mother, started her journey with many public performances and singing lessons starting at just eight years old.  She rose to fame after participating in the first edition of Dutch Idol in 2002.  She ranked third overall in the competition.

Ms. Tahiri Laroussi’s professional career began in October 2003 with the release of her first single, "Summer All Over Again", from her album, "Around the world", for which she won the Edison Award in 2004, which honors creative and excellent artists.

Laroussi continued to grow after she launched her second album, “Halfway Home”, in 2005, and she represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Serbia with the song “Your Heart Belongs to Me”.  While she performed in the semifinals, she did not make it to the final round.  In 2009, Hind joined the professional website SellaBand to finance and record her albums, and she brought in € 40,000 in just 12 days.

Hind’s new song “Salam Salam” has reached over 16,000 views on YouTube and her Facebook page is also growing rapidly.  Her songs reflect a mix between the occidental culture and pop, singing in various languages such as English, French, Arabic and Portuguese.

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By Youssef Igrouane

Meknes- The 4th edition of the National Festival of Ahouach Art will take place from August 10 to 12.

The festival aims at preserving Ahouach art as an immortalized heritage that reflects the region’s culture and fosters the development of Ouarzazate.

The festival will include a conference which will operate under the theme of “immaterial heritage in Morocco and Ahouach as a Model”. The festival will also be hosting a series of theater productions, art exhibitions, and musical performances of folkloric troops from the region.

Also, more than 250 artists from well-known bands across the Kingdom will be performing. Bands include “Tamnoukalt from Zagora," “Ahouach Awaz Awaz from Taroudanet,” “Afouss Ghoufouss from Guelmim,” Ahouach Ahoudjin from Azilal,” “Ahouach Adelssan and Ahouach Ounebla" from Ouarzazate which will also take part in illuminating the magnificence of the culture in the region. There will be also poetry and entertaining activities for children.

Ahouach is a type of folkloric music which is to be played to a dance from southern of Morocco, and performed by men and women who play drums and sing in Tamazight.

Ouarzazate also known as the Moroccan Hollywood, is a city in the southeast of Morocco and is a popular destination for international filmmakers.

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Rabat - Moroccan superstar Saad Lamjarred’s latest song, entitled ‘Lamaalem’ (The Boss) has nearly 100,000,000 views on video sharing website YouTube, a mere three months after the video clip was released.

Lamjarred will be the first Arabic singer to attain that achievement.

Lamjarred’s captivating song has revolutionized Morocco and the Arab World as a whole, and has earned him a Guinness World Record achievement.

“Lamaalem” was a smash hit among Saad’s fans and novice singers, who covered the song to unleash their creativity and express their passion.

Saad was born in 1985 in Rabat. He is the son of eminent singer Bachir Abdou and distinguished actress Nezha Regragui.

He began his journey singing his father’s songs, and he continued to grow after he attended the Conservatory of Music in Rabat.

Saad rose to fame after being nominated for the Best Middle East Act at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Edited by Timothy Filla

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A group of street musicians entertained passersby on Thursday night before the Parliament in Rabat. The band, comprised of two guitarists and a drummer, performed lovely songs on the demand of their large audience. The song in  this video is the band’s cover to the famous song Aicha by Khaled, the Algerian Ray singer.

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A group of street musicians entertained passersby on Thursday night before the Parliament in Rabat.

The band, comprised of two guitarists and a drummer, performed lovely songs on the demand of their large audience.

The song in  this video is the band's cover to the famous song Aicha by Khaled, the Algerian Ray singer.

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Rabat - The 15th edition of the National Festival of “Ahidous” (local folklore dance) will take place from August 8th through the 10th, in Ain Leuh, about 50 kilometers away from Ifrane.

This 15th edition will be co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and “Taymat Association for Atlas Art”

The annual event focuses to immortalize the Amazigh culture and promote Ahidous artists.

The festival also hosts poets and historians who link the history and future of the Amazigh culture while recognizing it as valuable and intangible heritage. The art of combining and presenting historical tales with the magnificent Ahidous dance.

Furthermore, the event will include the performance of a 36-player band that will pay tribute to Ahidous icons.

Ahidous is a type of folkloric Moroccan dance in which men and women stand side by side and form flowing cirlces accompanied by an Amazigh chorus and Bendir.

Ain Leuh is a village located in the Middle Atlas in the Ifrane Province, Morocco. It is well-known for its mountainous terrain and its production of berries.

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Rabat - Finnish singer Nia Chailin, esteemed in the Kingdom for singing about the beauty of Morocco and its Sahara in Arabic and Amazigh languages, will perform at Casablanca Festival to celebrate the King’s birthday on August 21st.

According to the Finnish MTV website, Chailin has been invited to sing at the Casablanca Festival that will be organized to commemorate King Mohammed VI’s birthday on August 21st.

In one of her songs entitled “Ana Maghrebia,” (I am Moroccan), the Finnish singer used authentic Moroccan dialect along with French, English and Spanish.

The lyrics of the song can be translated into English as follows, “I am Moroccan, I am sociable and I don’t want you to play tricks on me.”

[video id="7ksYMiHluGQ" type="youtube"]

Chailin, who is married to Isham Jonsiin, music producer and composer of Moroccan origin, sings another beautiful song entitled “Habibi Chouffia” (My Lover Look at Me) in Moroccan dialect with oriental music.

[video id="of9XojFyt_Y" type="youtube"]

She posted a photo of herself in front of the stage set up in the center of Casablanca, with a statement that reads “the scene is getting ready”.

Chailin, 31, is a native of Helsinki, Finland’s capital city, but she has lived for many years in France and the United States.

The Finnish singer, who is now in Casablanca preparing for the event where she will meet her Moroccan fans for the first time, is expected to perform one of her new songs about Moroccan Sahara.

Brought up in a family of professional musicians, Chailin has released many songs since 2009 when she recorded her first album.

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Casablanca - Lucie (left), Juliette (middle), and Elisa (right) are three rising YouTube stars from France that are known for their original and unique way of covering modern pop songs.

The three young ladies are childhood friends who grew up in Seine Saint Denis, northeast of Paris. All three are passionate musicians and singers. The covers and mashups they have published so far on their YouTube channel are extremly popular.

One year ago, the first cover that brought attention to Lucie, Juliette and Elisa was “Tous les mêmes,” originally by the Belgian singer, rapper and songwriter Stromae:

Consisting of three very talented young women , the trio harmonizes perfectly with two singers (Lucie and Elisa) and a cellist (Juliette). Moreover, with thousands of subscribers on Youtube and on their Facebook page , these fresh talents have the opportunity to achieve great things in the near future. The young women are beautiful, humble, and most importantly, talented. As a trio, they have virtually entertained many internet users over the past months.

This trio is known by the name: LEJ - pronounced "Elijay." The three letters are simply the initials of their first names. In an interview with Youmanbeing.net, the trio stated: “Before we put a video online, we practice many times. [...] When we choose songs, we try our best to make them suitable to our identity…”

The female trio wants to give pleasure to people while doing what they love: music. Since all of their videos are either mashups or cover songs, fans begin to wonder when the girls will produce some music on their own. LEJ revealed to Youmanbeing.net that they are working on some songs, but “it is perhaps a little too early to get them out. We have to get even better to come up with good productions to please the public…”

LEJ has managed to win plenty of hearts from a vast public, both in France and abroad. For the moment, their recognition remains largely on the internet. Nevertheless, when LEJ performs during festivals, the number of people attending is increasing little by little. And LEJ also already made a celebrity friend: Pharrel Williams.

Currently, LEJ’s mashup of several summerhits of 2015 has made a buzz:

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Casablanca - Meknès will be hosting this year’s International Freestyle Urban Dance Festival in which young talents are given the opportunity to present their moves, skills and music to a large public. The festival will run from the 7^th - 20^th September 2015.

Organized by L’Association Espoir Jeunesse Maroc, Freestyle Urban Dance Maroc, the categories of the show embrace the following: slam, hip hop, breakdance, electro, popping, Djin, beatmaking, freestyle football, X-games, photography & video editing. The competitions will focus on parkour (free running), graffiti, new style, house dance, battle kids, battle b-girls, power move and X-games.

This festival’s competition is the largest event of its kind in Morocco. Equally, the event is recognized internationally and some of the participants will arrive from: France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Holland, England, Russia, USA, Algeria and Tunisia. The competitions will also be judged by national and international experts.

The 12^th edition of the festival will include competitions in 18 sports and urban arts. The competition will host 800 participants with various backgrounds including athletes, artists, and dancers. In addition, over 5,000 children and young adults from over 10 countries will be expected to participate in this event.

National and international artists will be mentoring and guiding the talented participants throughout Meknès and its surroundings. The graffiti workshops will be supervised by the French artist Jaké and the Moroccan young artists will be supervised by Anass Dou and Soufian Zourgane.

In the last edition of 2014, the festival successfully gained support and recognition from many known personalities in the field of urban arts, including Emilio Austin (Buddha Stretch) who was Michael Jackson’s choreographer and the Moroccan musician, Amir Ali.

The performances in Meknès will be held at: Place l’Agora, Théâtre Lahboul, Théâtre de l’institut Français Place Administratifs, Maison des Jeunes Abdelkarim El Khattabi, Maison des Jeunes Mohamed V.

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Rabat - American rapper Jay-Z will appear in court next October accused of plagiarism of the main beats of a song by Abdelhalim Hafez.

This week, court documents set October 13th to conduct a jury trial in Los Angeles against Jay-Z for his song entitled “Big Pimpin,” released in 1999.

Baligh Hamdy composed the beat in 1957 for Abdelhalim Hafez’s song entitled “Khossara Khossara.”

The beats of both songs were clearly composed using a Middle Eastern flute.

ABC reported that “Big Pimpin'’ hip-hop producer Timbaland has said he found the Egyptian song without any identification on a CD, and that he believed it was in the public domain.

In 2001, Jay-Z’s relatives reportedly tried to resolve the problem by paying $100,000 to the label EMI Arabia in order to hold the copyright to the song.

However, in 2007, Osama Ahmed Fahmy, the composer’s nephew determined to file lawsuit in a U.S. Court saying that the settlement deal was inappropriate according to Egyptian law.

Fahmy added in his lawsuit that, "Khosara, Khosara” is 'culturally significant' in Egypt and local law at the time gave no “blanket license to make derivative works that alter or add to the copyright.”

Fahmy and his lawyers intend to look for experts in order to assess the profit of Jay-Z’s song.

Jay-Z’s lawyers believe this lawsuit is ridiculous and derided the conflict saying that to assume “people buy concert tickets to hear one song, never mind an instrumental sample contained in one song…is beyond speculative — it is farcical.”

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Rabat - Moroccan Rai singer Hafid Douzi has canceled his participation in the 16^th annual International Festival for Palestine in Ramallah, to avoid “dirtying” his passport with an Israeli stamp.

Hafid Douzi made the decision after he learned from the Festival administration that he and his band would have to enter Ramallah via the TelAviv airport.

Speaking to Daily Alquds, Douzi said he was very delighted when he received the invitation to perform for the Palestinian people in Ramallah.

He added that initially the agreement was to enter the Palestinian city via Jordan’s capital of Amman. “However, recently the organizers contacted us saying the entry should be via TelAviv airport.”

Douzi negotiated with the organizers in an attempt to avoid getting Israeli stamps on the band members’ passports.

After long negotiations with the organizers, the festival director promised his manager, Kader Douzi, who is also his brother, that none of the passports of the band’s members will have the Israeli stamp.

“Yet, three days before the date of our flights, we received notice from the director that Israeli authorities insist on stamping our passports,” Hafid Douzi said.

Douzi stressed that he firmly refused “dirtying” his passport with the stamp of an occupying country, adding that accepting such stamp “is just like accepting normalization with Israeli.”

“And I announce that I am against normalization with Israel,” he concluded.

Some Arab countries refuse entry to travelers with any Israeli stamp in their passport. The stamp may be a visa stamp, or a stamp on entry or departure. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, and Lebanon will refuse entry.

Last June, Adham Nabulsi, a Jordanian singer of Palestinian origin, was barred from entering Lebanon because he visited the Occupied Territories.

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Rabat - The 16^th edition of Tanjazz will take place from September 9^th through the 13^th, in Tangier.

The festival aims to supply stages for amateur artists to unleash their artistic creativity and mix classical culture with contemporary music.

The event will include the performances of well-known artists across the world such as the Austrian Sally Street, Samira Tawil, Nikki Hill and Grainne Duffy, as well as bands such as The Wanton Bishops, the Spanish Sumrra, Rhythm Desperados, The merry Poppins, Roberto Gatto and Butanga.

The festival also hosts international musicologists and instrumentalists such as the eclectic percussionist Minino Garray, clarinetist Arun Ghosh and Cisco Herzhaft. Also, pianists such as the Cuban Ivan Melon Lewis, the Belgian Jean-Philippe Collard-Neven and Yacine Malek.

Furthermore, the event will include workshops for amateur dancers and artists spread across various sites in Tangier.

Tangier is an inclusive cultural center; the previous editions of the annual festival were characterized by the throng of both Moroccans and tourists who came to witness the creativity of the premier jazz festival in North Africa.

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By Faith Barker

London - At an evening concert during the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, bemused European tourists and enthusiastic Moroccans sit side by side and watch the musicians enter holding candles. At a festival in Australia, the audience gazes open-mouthed as the rhythm gains pace and a woman in blue begins to trance, her long hair brushing the floor of the stage as she sways her head from side to side. In a house in Fes, teenage boys in fake designer caps and sneakers sit with their master learning the chants of the Sufi brotherhood.

The Hamadsha are one of the many popular Sufi brotherhoods in Morocco who play music in honour of their saint and the spirits. The tradition began to decline in the 1970s as a result of modernisation and the influence of Islamic reform. But recently a reconsideration of traditional music and Sufi culture globally and within Morocco has led to new performance opportunities for groups like the Hamadcha. These new performance contexts give rise to unexpected meetings and collaborations between different cultures and styles of music.

This is most true of the Hamadcha of Fes, a group led by the charismatic and energetic musician, Abderrahim Amrani. He sought new ways to adapt to changing circumstances.

‘There used to be Hamadcha everywhere, but now there is nothing left. We need to preserve Moroccan heritage,’ he says. ‘People in the past listened with their ears, but times have changed, now they listen with their feet, they just want dance music.’

[caption id="attachment_166254" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Photo courtesy of Sandy McCutcheon[/caption]

Amrani’s group still play traditional ceremonies, lilas, in Fes. But beyond performing the ceremony in homes, the group has played in many of the festivals which have sprung up around Morocco over the past twenty years, and in Europe, America, and even Australia. Amrani, trying to strike a balance between renewing and protecting the tradition, is open minded. ‘Morocco is rich in heritage. In the world everyone has his own religion, his own music, but there must be interaction.’

He often works with foreign musicians, including Frédéric Calmès, a French musician who has played with the group since 2002, and myself. The group has collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as DJ Click and the International Jazz Orchestra of France.

The shows outside Morocco attract both Europeans interested in the powerful music and the trance practices associated with it, and Moroccan migrants recreating experiences of their homeland in their new countries. In one show in Belgium, Calmes says, the group played in a circus.

‘During that show women went into trance…for ten minutes it was like a real lila inside the show. If there are people with us, it immediately becomes something else.’

[caption id="attachment_166253" align="aligncenter" width="904"] Photo courtesy of Abderrahim Amrani[/caption]

Just like in the lilas in Morocco, even in unfamiliar contexts it is the audience and their relationship to the performers which determines the success and energy of the performance: the hal, a word meaning ecstasy.

In addition to his collaborations with other artists, Amrani also seeks to preserve his heritage by passing it on to younger generations. In 2013 he and Calmes travelled to a festival in Taiwan with a group of boys aged twelve to eighteen from Sidi Boujida, a poor area with a high crime rate in Fes. Since then, he has continued to instruct the boys in the words and rhythms of the Hamadsha, and they have performed with him at festivals and on television in Morocco. In part, the boys are attracted by the prospect of appearing on television and travelling abroad. But learning with Abderrahim also allows them an escape from their everyday lives of difficult situations at home and school, and the lack of opportunities for the future.

[caption id="attachment_166252" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Photo courtesy of Suzanna Clarke[/caption]

‘Hamadcha helps me relax,’ Abdsamad, one of the boys in the group, says. ‘Whatever you have in your head, when you come to Abderrahim’s and do Hamadsha you get it out.’

Abderrahim’s adaptation of his tradition to rapidly changing circumstances shows the resilience and flexibility of ritual and tradition. The cultural encounters in new contexts produce hybrid performances which simultaneously preserve and renew the tradition. The Morocco of the Hamadcha today may be far removed from that of their ancestors, but the music goes on.

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Casablanca - Morocco’s Oasis festival announced their complete 2015 summer program in Marrakech.

Oasis is a comfy destination music festival featuring today’s top underground electronic talent. The Oasis festival will take place from September 11 to 13 in the peaceful surroundings of the Fellah Hotel. The three-day event in Marrakech gives guests the opportunity to enjoy the sun at the sight of the nearby Atlas Mountains, while listening to house, techno, disco, and electro music.

The festival will have the following acts perform: DJ Harvey and Âme, Guy Gerber & Matthew Dear, Cassy, tINI, Chloé, Fairmont, Axel Boman, Adriatique, Agoria, Alex Niggemann, Driss Skali etc.

(For the complete schedule, please visit theoasisfest.com/schedule)

Besides the music program, Oasis will provide a daily lifestyle offering, with yoga classes led by Joga Beats’ Jo Youle, live painting and street art from Moroccan artist Yann Chatelin, inviting stage-side pools, local street food, and massage sessions and wellness activities to establish a balance between dancing and relaxing.

In addition, guests will also have the chance to experience Moroccan culture on-site, with authentic local street food, a wide selection of organic products at the local souk, henna art, traditional Moroccan dishes, and more.

Oasis takes place from September 11 to 13 in Marrakech, Morocco. Packages, inclusive of a three-night hotel and three-day festival pass start at €248. Visit theoasisfest.com for more information in order to book your tickets on time.

Furthermore, the Oasis festival gives visitors the opportunity to meet new people with the same musical taste in one of Morocco’s most exotic cities: Marrakech.

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Rabat - A new video of four students from South Korea singing Saad Lamjarred’s new hit single, “Lmaallem” (“The Boss”) has gone viral on social media in Morocco.

In the footage, the students introduce themselves in Arabic as students from South Korea, following their higher studies in Jordan.

The video shows the students listening to Lamaallem and struggling to sing along with the Moroccan singer.

Saad Lamjarred’s catchy song has been extremely popular in Morocco and throughout the Arab world, generating 631,400 YouTube likes as of this writing.

Earlier this month, Lamaallem earned Lamjerrad a Guinness World Record achievement, becoming the first song in the Arab world to exceed 100,000,000 views on YouTube.

The song has become one of the most popular music videos ever released in the Arab world. It reached 123,640,970 views as of this writing.

Last year, Saad Lamjerrad became a household name throughout the Arab world following the release of the hit song “Enty”, which has amassed 49 million views on YouTube.

Born in 1985 in Rabat, Lamjarred is the son of well-known singer Bachir Abdou and popular actress Nezha Regragui.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN3C3_KH9xA

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Rabat - Famous Moroccan singer Hatim Idar has revealed he is batting cancer, the disease that claimed the life of his father.

Hatim Idar confirmed the news to his fans last weekend during his recent concert in Agadir, saying he is “undergoing treatment’” for the disease.

Hatim Idar hasn’t given an official statement regarding his health situation. However, multiple media reports said the Moroccan star is suffering from a tumor in his hand.

Hatim Idar, whose father had died of cancer, was shocked by the terrible news and is going through a difficult time, according to his sister and manger Hanan Idar.

On Thursday, Hanan Idar said her brother did make an official statement to media because he is still in shock and needs time to come to terms with his disease.

He singer is now reportedly receiving treatment at Lalla Salma Hospital for Cancers in Casablanca.

Prince Moulay Ismail, the cousin of King Mohammed VI, decided to cover all the treatment expenses once he received notice of Idar’s illness.

On Wednesday, Hatim Idar took to his official page in order to thank Moulay Ismail, whom he described as ‘the prince of humanity.’

“Thank you Prince of Humanity for everything. I promise to be stronger than the disease and beat it Inshaalah (God willing),” Hatim Idar wrote on his page.

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Taroudant - About fifty Moroccan artists will perform at the opening of the Festival d'île de France that will be organized from September 6 through October 11, at several locations within the Paris region.

Under the theme "Morocco on the Stage", the Festival will host famous Moroccan artists including Najat Aâtabou, N3rdistan, Mobydick, Zainab Afailal and l’Orchestre de Tétouan, Hamid El Kasri and Karim Ziad, Dakka Roudania of Taroudant, Inouraz, Fatima Tachtoukt, Ali Chouhad & Ali Faiq, and Mehdi Nassouli.

Their music styles range from Amazigh, Gnawa, pop, political rap, Andalous and other contemporary Moroccan music.

The fifty internationally renowned artists, some performing for the first time in France, will entertain audiences during ten concerts at five open-air stages.

The Festival is an opportunity for Moroccans living in France to meet and enjoy their country’s vibrant music, and an invitation to Europeans “to explore all the richness and diversity of contemporary Moroccan music.”

“For this Moroccan day, the Domaine de Villarceaux will be taking on blue and ochre hues, delicate aromas, multiple flavors and contrasting sounds for a sensory adventure to the "land of the setting sun",” the organizers of the festival said.

“From the Amazigh tradition to political rap, the Festival d’île de France will take you on a thrilling journey of the extraordinary diversity of contemporary Morocco,” the organizers added.

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Meknes - Djoir Jordan is an American Pop/Rock singer, songwriter and actress. Her song "Party pocalypse" was featured on the 20th Century Fox Film, "The Longest Ride" which was released in theaters April 10, 2015. Discovered via Lady Gaga network, "Djoir" gave an exclusive interview to Morocco World News on her life and philosophy of "Diamond Cut." 

MWN: How did you get your start in music field?

DJOIR: My first experience on stage was when I was 3 years old, and I performed in my grandmother’s church. From there I began singing in traveling singing groups and landed a role on a syndicated kids’ TV show called “Colby’s Clubhouse.” I was one of the original cast members for 4½ years alongside Krysta Rodriguez, who later landed a TV role on the show SMASH. After Colby’s Clubhouse ended, I began singing hooks for various inspiring rappers in high school. After high school, I started auditioning for any opportunities I could find. One of the first projects to jumpstart my career was a girl group called IMPULSE. I was excited to get signed to my first production deal and quickly moved from San Diego to Hollywood, CA. I became one of four members of the group along with Janel Parrish from “Pretty Little Liars.” After making the choice to leave the project, I was asked to audition for a new group called Minx Mafia, mentored by Mr. Dalvin DeGrate from the chart-topping R&B group Jodeci. I landed the gig and became one of the lead singers for this project.

I spent about 2½ years with the girls recording amazing music and got connected to Cassandra Mills, who started Giant Records (of Warner Music), under Irving Azoff. Towards the end, like most girl groups, we found ourselves divided and wanting to go our separate ways. I am still great friends with some of the girls and remained close to Mr. Dalvin and Cassandra Mills. It’s true what they say: Never burn a bridge. I decided to pursue a solo career, checking in with both Dalvin and Cassandra, as they have continued to mentor me over the years. Now my music has been placed on film and TV, and I have made it on the dance charts for both of my singles, “Right Now” and “Control.” I am so excited to see what is in store next!

MWN: What is your philosophy of life?

DJOIR: I always try to remember: Do YOU to the best of your ability and let others do the same. You shouldn’t compete; you should be the best YOU possible. Also, always be humble and thankful for the opportunities and people in your life. Never take for granted the gifts and talents you’ve been given. Walk with a humble heart and treat others with respect and love.

MWN: Your motto as an artist is "Be Diamond Cut." What do you mean exactly?

DJOIR: My motto is: "Be Unique, Stand Out and Reflect Your Light to the World."

Being “diamond cut” means you are uniquely made with a purpose! We can easily forget that because of the dark world we live in today. It’s important that we remember to be proud of who you are and not afraid to stand out. Your personality and talents are unique like a diamond and when light hits that diamond (you), it reflects beautiful colors into the world. Always remember: It’s OK to be different, it’s OK to look different, and it’s OK to think outside the box. In fact, never let limitations define who you are, who you want to be, and who you ultimately want to become. Being “diamond cut” is a movement and it’s important that we support each other, while shining our unique light into this world.

MWN: You wrote “Partypocalypse” with David Whiteside, and you performed it. What does the word “Partypocalypse” mean to you?

DJOIR: When Dave and I wrote this song, it was around the time everyone was talking about the apocalypse in the news (which of course never happened). It was our light-hearted way of having fun with this idea and turning it into an “End of the World Party” or similar to Prince’s song: “Party Like It’s 1999.”

MWN: You are a singer, songwriter, dancer and entertainer. How do you manage to do all this?

DJOIR (laughing): Like Nike says, you “Just Do It”! In my opinion, all of that goes hand in hand. Nowadays you have to diversify yourself as much as possible and also know how to multitask. Being a singer, songwriter, dancer and entertainer is the fun and “easy part.” It’s the networking, building solid music relationships, business meetings and scheduling that gets crazy to manage. I am fortunate to love what I do, so it doesn’t feel like work or it’s unmanageable.

MWN: You did an AFE (Armed Forces Entertainment) tour in Japan where you performed for the military troops and their families. Was it a choice or an invitation? Tell us about this experience and what did you gain from it?

DJOIR: It was kind of both. Once you go through the submission and evaluation process they have to approve and an invitation goes out. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had! Japan was incredible and the people were so warm and welcoming. That tour was my first time traveling outside of the US, so I was like a kid in a candy store with my eyes taking in all the surroundings. It was in April so the cherry blossoms were in bloom, which made for an incredible experience.

The troops and their families were awesome, too! It’s an amazing feeling to give back to the people that sacrifice so much. They are always so grateful for a “taste of home” to come to them and totally welcomed us at every base we performed at. For me, besides building a following, I’d say I gained a sense of understanding of the military life and the sacrifices they make for our freedom. I recently got back from another AFE tour where we went to Bahrain, Turkey, Cypress, Italy, Spain and Portugal. It’s amazing to be able to do what you love and give back to the people that give their lives every day.

MWN: You publish massively on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. What is the contribution of these social networks to your career and to what extent is it useful today to communicate to fans via this tool?

DJOIR: Having an online presence is HUGE nowadays. It opens doors that would have been shut years ago. I try to engage and talk with all my fans via Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and Periscope and other social media sites as much as possible. Twitter has been amazing to me, because my fans are able to send me direct messages. Now that we are building such a strong fan base, it’s getting harder to keep up with the messages, which is not a bad problem to have. I try my best to talk to everyone I can, because I know it’s important to have a relationship with my fans. I even feature my fans, also known as my #DiamondCutFans, on #FanFriday’s and post pictures of people that come to my show, people that make signs, and people spreading the word in their towns. I love featuring my fans and those that are spreading the word, all starting a #TeamDiamondCut movement. Although online networks have been amazing to me, I also keep it “old-school,” too. I go out and meet people, shake hands and connect, whether it’s at my shows, events I attend, or on a day-to-day basis. With me doing both, I’ve seen a huge boom with my online numbers, which will result in a bigger Diamond Cut Movement.

MWN: You were first a singer in several female pop groups. Then, in 2008, you decided to go solo. Why did you make this change?

DJOIR: It was hard for me to put my heart and soul into group projects and have other people control your destiny. Any time you are in a girl group, it’s like a marriage and if you have one “bad apple” it’s like starting again from zero. As a solo artist, I can have more control over whom I let enter team Diamond Cut. I can make sure I am being true to myself and make sure I’m surrounding myself with amazing people that understand the direction, brand and work ethic I expect. One thing that I loved about being in a group was the collaboration of ideas. That’s why every member of my team has a voice and a unique aspect they bring to the project. I am always open to new ideas that make sense to who I am as an artist. This way I can continue to grow and create something new.

MWN: Which style of music do you mainly see yourself in, pop or rock?

DJOIR: I am definitely a Top 40 pop artist.

MWN: Generally, what are the themes of your songs?

DJOIR: My songs tend to be very fun, bright and upbeat. I like to have a positive message or write about real things that happen in people’s lives.

MWN: In this time of war and attacks, what message do you want the public to take away today?

DJOIR: I stand for peace and unity among all people. It’s important to understand that life is about making choices and I choose to be a light in this dark world.

MWN: Do you believe music promotes peace and do you believe in dialogue between religions?

DJOIR: Yes, I think that no matter what you believe in, people can connect through sound.

MWN: In 2014, you received nominations for Pop Single of the Year and Solo Performer of the Year for the 2014 LA Music Awards. What do you hope to receive in 2015?

DJOIR: Yes, and that was so amazing to be nominated for those awards. Truthfully, I never have expectations about awards. It is important for me to stay focused on creating music from my heart, performing with passion and giving back to my fans. If I get nominated or receive any awards, that’s just sprinkles on a cupcake.

MWN: You have performed in MENA countries. What do you think of Morocco and Moroccan music and is it on your visit list?

DJOIR: I would love to perform in Morocco! Definitely a place I’d like to visit and of course ride a camel! Moroccan music has such a cool beat that you can’t help but move when you hear it.

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Rabat - The 16^th edition of Boulevard for Young Musicians Festival will take place in Casablanca from September 11 through 20.

The event will include over 30 bands from Morocco, Algeria, Germany, Spain, Jordan, France, Senegal and the United States such as French rapper Youssoupha, Jordanian band Jadal, Moroccan Band Darga and Hoba Hoba Spirit.

Furthermore, the festival will be hosting a "Tremplin," a competition between promising artists and bands from different styles of music, including hip-hop, Fusion, rock and metal.

The 16^th Boulevard for Young Musicians Festival will also include a series of theater productions, art exhibitions and graffiti workshops for children.

The festival was founded in 1999 by Mohamed Merhari labeled ‘Momo’ and Hicham Bahou. Its goal was to sanctify contemporary art and supply a stage for young artists to unleash their creativity. It is the premier contemporary music festival in Morocco.

Casablanca plays a major role in the music scene in Morocco, since this is a city that transformed the meaning of music for Moroccans during the 1990s, when musicians came together to fuse hip-hop, rock, electronica and fusion.

The post Casablanca To Host Boulevard for Young Musicians Festival appeared first on Morocco World News.