Country: France
When first listening to “Jeune Wa Sghir” from French artist Houcine Steen, I was not quite sure what kind of music I was listening to. Elements of dance, pop, and electronic music (all styles I don’t normally gravitate towards) were blending with Moroccan percussion and vocal melodies, with triumphant horn lines filling out the sound to make something that sounded completely unique. It was captivating.
There was a bubbliness to the song; something upbeat and fun, even though the melody at times went towards something more serious. As the lyrics were in French, I couldn’t understand what the track’s message was, but it was no less mesmerizing. I delved into more of Steen’s tracks.
I next heard “Telaabiha Khatek”, which again incorporated Middle Eastern styles and pushed them through a lively, Europop filter, creating something you could easily dance to no matter what culture you’re a part of. Then there was “Ana Went Safi Salina”, which opens with some big band jazz drums, before switching over to a sunny, island groove, with calypso key lines and snappy beats. It’s perfectly produced, mixing all the sounds together seamlessly despite having so many disparate elements coexisting within the track.
Houcine Steen is someone you should be listening to if you want to keep the summer vibes going. Listen to a couple of his tracks in our World Watch Playlist!
The Indy Review 