Biography
Bridging traditional African sounds with American blues and rock, the Malian ensemble Tamikrest hail from the West African country of Mali. Their music conveys an international outlook, yet the lyrics address the turmoil and upheaval that have afflicted their native region along with a deep longing for harmony and solidarity. Ousmane Ag Mossa, guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist from the Tuareg community of the Southern Sahara, established the band in 2006 after enduring lifelong discrimination and conflict in his birthplace of Kidal. Motivated by the example of fellow Malian Tuareg outfit Tinariwen, which had already reached listeners worldwide, he chose the Tamashek term Tamikrest—signifying “the knot” or “the junction”—as the group’s name. Raised amid political turbulence and drought, Ag Mossa picked up the guitar in childhood, and the musicians first concentrated on Tuareg folk traditions. Exposure to cassettes and MP3s featuring Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and Mark Knopfler gradually shifted their approach, incorporating broader Western influences.
In 2008 the group performed at Mali’s Festival au Desert and encountered the American-Australian collective Dirtmusic. The two outfits quickly formed a close bond; when Dirtmusic returned to Mali the following year to track an album, Tamikrest joined the sessions. Dirtmusic’s Chris Eckman volunteered to helm their debut full-length, Adagh, issued in 2010 on the German Glitterhouse imprint, known for indie and roots rock releases. That association helped launch European tours that expanded their audience. Eckman again produced the follow-up, Toumastin, in 2011. Two years later came Chatma—translating as “sisters”—whose songs examined the hardships confronting Tuareg women. Strong European and U.K. reviews supported further international dates, including a August 1, 2014 appearance at Germany’s Burg Herzberg Festival in Alsfeld that yielded the live album Taksera. During summer 2016 the band reconvened with producer Mark Mulholland to record their fourth studio effort, the 2017 concept album Kidal, centered on Ousmane Ag Mossa’s hometown.
In 2008 the group performed at Mali’s Festival au Desert and encountered the American-Australian collective Dirtmusic. The two outfits quickly formed a close bond; when Dirtmusic returned to Mali the following year to track an album, Tamikrest joined the sessions. Dirtmusic’s Chris Eckman volunteered to helm their debut full-length, Adagh, issued in 2010 on the German Glitterhouse imprint, known for indie and roots rock releases. That association helped launch European tours that expanded their audience. Eckman again produced the follow-up, Toumastin, in 2011. Two years later came Chatma—translating as “sisters”—whose songs examined the hardships confronting Tuareg women. Strong European and U.K. reviews supported further international dates, including a August 1, 2014 appearance at Germany’s Burg Herzberg Festival in Alsfeld that yielded the live album Taksera. During summer 2016 the band reconvened with producer Mark Mulholland to record their fourth studio effort, the 2017 concept album Kidal, centered on Ousmane Ag Mossa’s hometown.
Albums
Live
