Press
“Akim El Sikameya excels in blending European and Algerian influences in his music, and has astonished audiences worldwide with his unique singing voice.”
(Worldmusic.net)
“[...]The moment I saw him play live on stage, I felt more than I ever thought. I think his presence on stage, his playing, his spontaneity, his discipline, his lyricism is just fantastic…”
(Thomas Brooman (artistic director of WOMAD Festivals))
“With the calm tones of his violin dovetailing to millimetre-perfection with boisterous flamenco guitar, this is the sound of cultures not colliding but sharing, of friendship not feuding. As warm and welcoming as a Mediterranean summer breeze."
(BBC Radio)
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Artist Information
The big surprise of the WOMAD festivals in Las Palmas, Madrid, Reading and Singapore in 2005 got an amazing audience response. Backed by his new album AKIM EL SIKAMEYA is going to enchant his audiences again with a completely new program in 2009.
His deep knowledge of his Mediterranean roots marks him as one of North Africa’s newest music leaders. It is the complex blend of the influences in his music that, combined with his on-stage energy, make Akim the great performer that he is - both with large audiences (e.g. 200.000 people at the 2005´s LIVE 8) or smaller venues. Akims performances are characterized by an almost unique sound both in the qualities of his incredible voice and his violin, sensitive, bittersweet and captivating. The music is richly textured and multi-faceted with echoes of everything from Flamenco to Jazz to Gypsy Music to Celtique and Arabic music vibrating constantly in the ears of the listener.
With a stunning, febrile and sublime voice, comparable to the golden voice of North African superstar Cheb Mami, Akim is an exceptional performer and gifted songwriter. He delivers everything that Arabian music stands for: passion, ancient tradition, musicianship, strong dance appeal, and overwhelming personality. Akim El Sikameya now performs with five or seven musicians: accoustic guitar, accoustic bass, drums, accord, saxophone, trumpet & derbouka plus various other types of percussion. Just watch his live footage to see what Akim is about and you’ll find that he would enrich any festival line-up.
In October 2008 he released his newest album “Introducing”, which he recorded in collaboration with star-producer Philippe Eidel, who also helped Khaled become famous. With this album, Akim continues his way to unexplored fields of music. The energetic production gives the whole album a groovy live-feeling and makes the Arabic way of life tangible even to European listeners.
Through concerts all over the world between 2005 and 2008 with excited audiences in countries such as Canada, England, Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands and Germany – e.g. the Radio Multikulti Völkerball Festival in Berlin where Akim played besides artists such as Jehro and Bantu, or his record release show 2008 at Kulturbrauerei Berlin - he has literally become a world music artist.
The secret extra spice to enchant every festival in 2010!
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| Origin: | Algeria |
| Style: | Mediterranean Mix of arabian-
andalusian Music and Chanson
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| Label: | Introducing/ World Music Network |
| Current Album: | Introducing (2008) |
| Touring Party: | 5 (on stage) + 2 |
| Touring Period: | Summer 2010 |
| Territory: | Europe (except: F, Ch, P, E) |
| Booker: | anna@prime-tours.com |
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