As soon as plugs in at the Tiny Desk, the Saharan shred begins. The music feels midstream, as if the licks never cease in his fingers 鈥� guitar strings bend with the utmost gentility, but, in an instant, set fire to the fretboard.
Born and based in Niger, Moctar comes from the Tuareg tradition: hypnotic desert blues that swim in rock distortion. (Think , and , all of whom have played Tiny Desk in their own distinct styles.) For more than a decade, Moctar has built an extensive repertoire that not only mesmerizes musically but also speaks to the joy of his homeland and resistance to those who exploit its people.
Unlike his , Moctar and his berobed band here play up the chunky riffs and body-rattling volume of 2024鈥檚 Funeral for Justice: Orange amps, Fender Strats and, for this occasion, a kick-and-djembe combo that absolutely whips. Moctar鈥檚 aim is true: a plea, in Tamasheq, to preserve Niger鈥檚 native tongue (鈥泪尘辞耻丑补谤鈥�); a protest against politicians who sell out Africa鈥檚 land and resources (鈥淔uneral for Justice鈥�); a battle versus inner demons (鈥淭补办辞产补鈥�). In these songs, there鈥檚 a righteous fury, to be sure, but also a reminder that the good fight is always worth fighting.
SET LIST
- 鈥泪尘辞耻丑补谤鈥�
- 鈥淔uneral for Justice鈥�
- 鈥淭补办辞产补鈥�
MUSICIANS
- Mdou Moctar: guitar, vocals
- Ahmoudou Madassane: guitar, vocals
- Souleymane Ibrahim: drums, vocals
- Mikey Coltun: bass, vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producer: Lars Gotrich
- Director/Editor: Kara Frame
- Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
- Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
- Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Alant茅 Serene
- Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
- Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
- Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
- Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Copyright 2024 NPR
