Imal Gnawa Performs (Get Lit)

Summary

All Of It Podcast Summary: "Imal Gnawa Performs (Get Lit)"

Release Date: May 9, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Atlas Phoenix, Frontman of Imal Gnawa
Broadcast: Weekdays, 12:00 - 2:00 PM on WNYC

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Introduction

In the May 9, 2025 episode of WNYC’s All Of It, host Alison Stewart welcomes listeners to an enriching exploration of cultural fusion through music. The episode spotlights Imal Gnawa, a pioneering local band led by Atlas Phoenix, known for their unique blend of traditional Moroccan Gnawa music with modern technology and futuristic elements. This episode coincided with the April Get Lit with All Of It Book Club event, featuring author Leila Lalamy, who requested contemporary Moroccan artistry for the evening.

Introducing Imal Gnawa

Alison Stewart opens the episode by introducing Imal Gnawa, highlighting their recent debut EP released in January. She expresses excitement about the band's participation in the event and sets the stage for an engaging conversation with Atlas Phoenix. Stewart mentions the significance of having contemporary Moroccan artists in the program, aiming to bridge traditional cultural expressions with modern creative ventures.

“Imal Gnawa is a local band led by Atlas Phoenix. They blend traditional Moroccan Gnawa music with modern technology and futurist ideas.”
— Alison Stewart [00:29]

Live Performance: "Mimouna"

The episode transitions into a live performance segment featuring Imal Gnawa performing their song "Mimouna." Atlas Phoenix introduces the piece, explaining its deep cultural roots:

“Mimouna is a Jewish female, Moroccan Jewish female saint and also a holiday, Jewish holiday.”
— Atlas Phoenix [01:01]

"Mimouna" is depicted as a vibrant tradition celebrated by various communities in Morocco, including the Jewish community. The performance aims to evoke the trance rhythms characteristic of Gnawa music, which Atlas describes as “ancient psychiatry” predating modern psychiatric practices. The traditional elements are enhanced with sci-fi inspired synthesizers, creating a seamless integration of past and future.

Understanding Gnawa Music and Its Instruments

Following the performance, Alison Stewart engages in an insightful interview with Atlas Phoenix, delving deeper into the technical and cultural aspects of Gnawa music. One focal point is the Gimbri, a traditional string instrument central to Gnawa ensembles.

“Gimbri is this great grandmother of bass and ... it's where bass, bass, guitar evolved from.”
— Atlas Phoenix [08:36]

Atlas elaborates on the Gimbri’s historical significance, tracing its origins from sub-Saharan Africa to Morocco, and its evolution into the modern bass guitar. He highlights the instrument’s foundational role in the rhythmic and melodic structure of Gnawa music.

Symbolism of Colors in Gnawa Music

A particularly intriguing discussion arises around the use of colors to represent different spirits within Gnawa traditions. Atlas explains how each color corresponds to a collection of songs embodying ancient spirits, often interpreted as gods and goddesses from a millennium-old oral tradition.

“Gnawa music goes by spirits and colors. Each color has a collection of songs... they represent ancient spirits.”
— Atlas Phoenix [09:15]

He further describes how these colors and spirits facilitate a form of spiritual mediation during performances, where music serves as a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual realm, aiding in healing and communal cohesion.

Balancing Tradition and Technology

A core theme of the episode is the band’s innovative approach to blending traditional Gnawa elements with contemporary technology. Alison probes into how Imal Gnawa maintains this balance, reflecting the broader discourse on preserving cultural heritage while embracing modernity.

“I think everything is connected and it's just about like what fits.”
— Atlas Phoenix [10:35]

Atlas explains that their music is a natural progression of their studies and creative experiments. He notes that their first album was a solo project with synthesizers, followed by a collaborative effort with vocalists, and their upcoming album with a guest musician, Malem. This evolution underscores their commitment to exploring new sonic landscapes while honoring their Gnawa roots.

Future Directions for Imal Gnawa

When discussing future plans, Atlas conveys a philosophy centered on musical experimentation and communal healing. The band aims to continue evolving their sound, fostering a space where both band members and listeners can find solace and connection through music.

“We heal ourselves first and then anybody that vibrates with this vibe can also get the benefit.”
— Atlas Phoenix [11:12]

This approach emphasizes the therapeutic and unifying power of music, aligning with the traditional role of Gnawa music in facilitating spiritual and emotional well-being.

Live Performance: "Giles"

The episode resumes with a second live performance, featuring the song "Giles." Atlas provides context for the piece, linking it to Arabic literature and the figure of Gileli (Giuliani), a bohemian spiritual marabout who established a Sufi sect in North Africa after migrating from Baghdad.

“Gileli is... a bohemian spiritual marabout. ... Moroccans sing songs about him.”
— Atlas Phoenix [11:32]

"Giles" continues the theme of intertwining traditional narratives with contemporary interpretations, showcasing Imal Gnawa’s ability to honor historical figures while infusing their music with modern influences.

Closing Remarks

Alison Stewart concludes the episode by thanking Imal Gnawa for their performances and insights. She underscores the show's mission to explore and celebrate diverse cultural expressions, fostering a community where varied perspectives enrich the cultural tapestry of New York City.

“That was a live performance from the band Imal Gnawa from our April Get Lit with All Of It Book Club event. And that is all of it for today.”
— Alison Stewart [17:04]

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It masterfully showcases the fusion of tradition and innovation through Imal Gnawa’s music. By blending ancient Gnawa rhythms with futuristic technology, Atlas Phoenix and his band not only preserve cultural heritage but also push the boundaries of contemporary music. The discussions on the spiritual significance of colors in Gnawa music and the balance between tradition and modernity provide profound insights into the band’s artistic vision. For listeners seeking a deep dive into the cultural dynamics shaping modern music, this episode offers a compelling and enlightening experience.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• “Imal Gnawa is a local band led by Atlas Phoenix. They blend traditional Moroccan Gnawa music with modern technology and futurist ideas.”
  — Alison Stewart [00:29]

• “Mimouna is a Jewish female, Moroccan Jewish female saint and also a holiday, Jewish holiday.”
  — Atlas Phoenix [01:01]

• “Gimbri is this great grandmother of bass and ... it's where bass, bass, guitar evolved from.”
  — Atlas Phoenix [08:36]

• “Gnawa music goes by spirits and colors. Each color has a collection of songs... they represent ancient spirits.”
  — Atlas Phoenix [09:15]

• “I think everything is connected and it's just about like what fits.”
  — Atlas Phoenix [10:35]

• “We heal ourselves first and then anybody that vibrates with this vibe can also get the benefit.”
  — Atlas Phoenix [11:12]

• “Gileli is... a bohemian spiritual marabout. ... Moroccans sing songs about him.”
  — Atlas Phoenix [11:32]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the "Imal Gnawa Performs (Get Lit)" episode, providing a detailed account of the discussions, performances, and cultural insights shared by Alison Stewart and Atlas Phoenix.

Transcript

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[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Ima Ganawa is a local band led by Atlas Phoenix. They blend traditional Moroccan Ganawa music with modern technology and futurist ideas. They released their debut EP in January. We were thrilled they were able to join us for our April get lit with all of it book club event with author Leila Lalamy who requested a contemporary Moroccan artist for the evening. You'll hear some of my conversation with the band's frontman, Atlas Phoenix in a minute. But first, here's a live performance from Imal Gnawa.

[Atlas Phoenix]

Thank you guys. We're gonna share with you some Gnawa vibes. So Gnawa is basically like ancient psychiatry. Before the modern psychiatry. People would gather up and they play these trance rhythms. But the way we do it is we're adding sci fi elements, including synthesizers. And that's going to be led by Andrew, Andrew Fox. Please give it up to Andrew. And a drum machine. That's Elon Elkaim and we're doing the traditional part. Mustafa on carcaba and vocals and me un Gimbri. So Gimbri is this great grandmother of bass and I'll let you guys listen to it. And we're going to perform Mimouna. We're going to perform two songs. So the first one is Mimouna. So in Morocco, this tradition is shared by many communities, including Jewish community. So Mimouna is a Jewish female, Moroccan, Jewish female saint and also a holiday, Jewish holiday.

[Mustafa]

It Sam.

[Atlas Phoenix]

Walmart.

[Mustafa]

Sam. It Sam Atlas.

[Interviewer]

Can I ask you a couple of questions before we hear your next song?

[Atlas Phoenix]

Sure, yeah.

[Interviewer]

First of all, what is the name? You said it's the grandfather of the bass. What is that called again?

[Atlas Phoenix]

Maybe grandmother, Grandmother, grandparents.

[Interviewer]

What's it called again?

[Atlas Phoenix]

Gimbri.

[Interviewer]

A Gimbri.

[Atlas Phoenix]

Yeah. But you can also call it Haj Sentir. It's where bass, bass, guitar evolved from. Yeah, it migrated from sub Saharan Africa to Morocco and it evolved in Morocco.

[Interviewer]

Before you sent over some of the music you were going to play for us tonight, you described it as having colors. Some of one piece was blue, another was black, another was green. First of all, what did we just hear? Blue, black, green.

[Atlas Phoenix]

This is Blue.

[Interviewer]

This is blue. What does blue mean?

[Atlas Phoenix]

Actually, this is black.

[Interviewer]

This is black. Okay, what does black mean?

[Atlas Phoenix]

So Genoa music goes by spirits and colors. Like, goes by colors. And each color has a collection, is a collection of songs. And those songs, they represent ancient spirits. Like, you know, maybe they were gods and goddesses back in the day. Because this is one 1000 year tradition. It was passed down orally. So but they evolved, you know, like Mimouna, for example, like is an evolution itself of this spirit, you know, so like these spirits, like each color represents a bunch of spirits. And what is. It's like a courtyard, you know, people, they think they're possessed. That's how they interpreted their illnesses. And Gnawa is there to basically like a judge, like, basically like mediating between the. Through trends, of course, between the dancer and. And spirits, basically.

[Interviewer]

So you have this beautiful traditional music and then the guys back there on the electronics. How do you think about balancing the tradition and the technology? Because that's what a lot of what the book was about.

[Atlas Phoenix]

I think everything is connected and it's just about like what fits. So we studied it and we met and then we made this and we produced the first album and we have two more but different experiences because the first one was just like solo with synthesizers, but the second one was with a group of vocalists. And the third one, we did it with a visitor, Malem, he was visiting and we made that album. We're gonna release it soon, hopefully.

[Interviewer]

So what are your plans for the future of the band?

[Atlas Phoenix]

You know, just to play music and enjoy, you know, enjoy music and experiment with it and you know, we heal ourselves first and then anybody that vibrates with the, with the, with this vibe like can also get the benefit.

[Interviewer]

What's the next song we're going to hear?

[Atlas Phoenix]

This one is we're going to switch back to Muslim marabouts and we're going to. We're going to. We have a song called Giles. So Gileli or Giuliani is known in Arabic literature as Giuliani. He's like not Al Halaj but is similar to Halaj is this bohemian spiritual marabout. Migrated from modern day Iraq, Baghdad to North Africa and established like a Sufi, a Muslim Sufi sect if you want, and that's it. And Moroccans, they sing songs about him including now. So that's what we're going to hear right now.

[Interviewer]

Here's Imal Kanawa.

[Atlas Phoenix]

Thank you.

[Mustafa]

It's Sa Sam.

[Interviewer]

Sh.

[Mustafa]

Ha Sam.

[Atlas Phoenix]

Thank you guys. Thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

That was a live performance from the band Imal Ginawa from our April get lit with all of it book Club event. And that is all of it for today. I appreciate you listening and I appreciate you have a great weekend and I'll meet you back here on Monday.

[Ira Flatow]

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