Simo Lagnawi

Morrocan Gnawa master Simo Lagnawi was signed to Waulk Records in 2013 and released his debut album Gnawa London that year. Gnawa music is the traditional music of black slaves who were taken from countries such as Guinea and Sudan to work in North African countries. It is characterised by the playing of the guembri, a camel-skinned three-stringed bass instrument that is played by the lead vocalist of the troupe. The other musicians chant, play krakebs - metal castanets that represent the handcuffs of the slaves - and drums. The music is highly spiritual, ritualised and ceremonial. Combined with incense and colour it is traditionally performed at Lila healing ceremonies that evoke muslim saints and animistic spirits to induce a state of trance. Simo is keen to promote the music in new contexts, to replicate its trancelike effect at festivals and venues throughout the world.

Simo arrived in the UK from Rabat in 2008 and has made it his mission to expose the sound of gnawa music in the UK and beyond with a range of African and other musicians combing their different traditions with his to create a new branch of gnawa music. He has performed in venues from museums such a s London's V&A and art galleries to festival stages from Scotland & Lithuania to Dubai & Morocco. He has performed his music for live radio and TV sessions for example on BBC Radio3 and Africa Today. On stage his driving energy is a force to be reckoned with and Simo actively promotes live music events in London that bring musicians together from different backgrounds.

Simo was a winner of World Music Network's 'Battle of the Bands' and the track Baniyorkoy from Gnawa London was included on a compilation album 'Rough Guide To The Best African Music You've Never Heard'. World Music Network released his second album The Gawa Berber on their Riverboat label in 2014. He returned to Waulk Records for his third album Salt released on 11th December 2015.