Exploring the musical journey of Sonia Noor, a Moroccan-French artist who skilfully fuses gnawa, chaabi, Northern African and Middle Eastern influences with soul and pop sounds, is an enriching experience. From her notable participation in La Nouvelle Star in 2016 to her recent collaborations with artists like Asmaa Hamzaoui (the first female gnawa musician) and DJ and producer Mr. ID, Sonia’s evolution reflects a rich cultural mosaic. Her latest single, “Poco a Poco,” was released in November and stands as a powerful testament to her diverse and vibrant musical identity.

Back in April, amid the rhythmic waves of the Atlantic Music Expo in Praia, Cape Verde, we had the privilege of engaging in a captivating conversation with Sonia, where she shared insights into her musical odyssey. As the ambient sounds of the Expo’s soundchecks provided a melodic backdrop, Sonia delved into the multifaceted cultural landscape of Morocco.

In the storytelling of Sonia Noor’s musical origins, the narrative wove through the vibrant threads of Moroccan culture, resonating with the eclectic melodies absorbed from an early age. “My roots inspire me a lot and influence my music and my art“, she explained. “The Moroccan culture is amazing and very rich. There are a lot of diverse cultural music genres and heritage that have shaped me“, she remarked. Her family, too, played a pivotal role, introducing her to a kaleidoscope of sounds. “I grew up listening to a lot of different music genres, from Western icons like Otis Redding and Ray Charles to Oriental music from Egypt and Lebanon“, she said. “This diversity has made my music special, I think“.

Reflecting her multicultural background, Sonia seamlessly blends languages in her songs. “I sing in Arabic, French, English, and Spanish“, she shared. “I try to limit it to one or two languages per song to maintain a sense of structure, but it’s important for me to embrace my diverse influences“.

Diversity doesn’t merely reside in languages; Sonia’s music draws from a wide range of genres. “My music is influenced by chaabi rhythms, jazz, soul, and pop“, she revealed. “I love to experiment with different sounds and styles to create a unique fusion“.

The journey into the music industry for Sonia was far from conventional. “I never took formal music classes or lessons“, she confessed. “I learned to play the guitar on my own, thanks to YouTube“. Despite this non-traditional path, Sonia’s passion for music remained unwavering. Her breakthrough moment occurred during a talent show in France. “I was selected among 16 finalists out of 10,000 candidates“, Sonia recalled with a smile. “It was a turning point in my life, and it made me realise that music could be more than just a passion. I decided it on the spot. I was like, okay, I’ve never done something crazy in my life“, she recounted. “You know, I was a very serious student. Like I was always studying hard, following the rules, and then I was like, okay, let’s do something crazy. I’m still young. I have a bachelor’s degree. What’s the worst that can happen? If it’s not gonna work, then that’s okay“.

Reflecting on her journey, Sonia shared, “I wasn’t ready at all for the opportunities that came my way. It was a challenging and exciting time“. The experience pushed her to explore new ways to cope with the pressure. “I started practicing meditation to calm my mind during the auditions“, she said. “It was a transformative experience that helped me move forward. I never thought about pursuing music as a career, but when the opportunity presented itself, I embraced it wholeheartedly“, she explained. “It was a shift from simply enjoying music to setting concrete goals and following a defined direction“.

With the decision made, Sonia embarked on a journey of self-discovery and musical exploration. “So then, slowly by slowly I started writing my songs“, she continued. “I started working with my actual managers. They are two brothers who have a wonderful music school studio in Casablanca. It’s a music complex called the Casablanca Music Institute. And we started from there. I started working with the band, with the guys, and having people helping me on the composing part, the lyrics part“.

As she reminisced about her beginnings, Sonia highlighted the collaborative effort that went into crafting her music. “I always keep the structure, the essence of the song, like a part of their lyrics, a part of the arrangements, but we have a team that’s working together“, she explained. “I think we’re always a new version of ourselves“, she added, “and it’s also a question of budget, of finances because making a career as an independent artist takes a lot of budget, energy, and time, but it’s wonderful“.

Her candid acknowledgment of the challenges independent artists face resonated in her words. “But yeah, I would have wanted to grow maybe faster in terms of the colors of the music“, she expressed. “Because I took a lot of time to make up my mind in terms of which type of music I wanted to make. I think it’s very, very, very important. And also when you don’t have a solid theoretical background, it’s very important to stay true to what you want to do and know exactly how and grow on the way“. In exploring the influences behind her music, Sonia revealed a diverse range of inspirations. “It’s a mix of different artists and different vibes that I really, really like“, she disclosed. “I like afrobeat. I like songs with strong lyrics that really tell a story. So I’d like to do something that can be easily listened to, but at the same time, you want to groove or dance a little bit, you know, but with a strong message“.

Sonia shared her vision for the future. “I have milestones that I want to accomplish. Playing on an international scale was one of the steps. So now it’s like the third or the fourth concert abroad, which is cool. So we did a few international concerts…” Sonia detailed some of her international experiences, including performances in Dubai and Naples. “It’s a milestone, but I think it’s important to find the equilibrium between what you want to do and what the industry wants you to do,” she shared. “Because it’s still a structure, and you still got to follow. You cannot just ride your own wave and hope for it to work. It’s got to be a bit strategic and know where to be, how to get your music on platforms and listen to more and more.

I also want to continue creating music that reflects my cultural heritage while also resonating with a global audience,” she said. “I hope to inspire others to embrace their unique identities through music“.

As the conversation deepened, Sonia delved into the transformative power of music and its role in self-discovery. “For me, music is really an inner quest thing“, she explained. “I started also writing because I opened the Pandora box of, okay, let’s work on ourselves. And it’s also a part of growing up and being an adult and going from, you know, maturing and getting to know really oneself. And I think it’s the hardest, yet most beautiful part of living. It’s really, really knowing oneself and loving oneself“.

The conversation flowed seamlessly between topics, touching on the release of the song and the various iterations it had undergone. “It’s very interesting to go through the whole process of releasing a song, releasing a single. And actually, we released like three or four tracks with Universal Music MENA,” Sonia reflected, emphasising her involvement in every step of the musical journey. “Sometimes you also get lost, it’s like, which direction should we go? How should it sound? Do we use this sound or this sound?” she shared, offering a glimpse into the intricacies of decision-making in the music industry. Acknowledging the pressures that come with being in the spotlight, Sonia shared, “Oh, there’s always pressure. So I try not to look at it or… I try to embrace it. Like I try to use it as fuel“. The recognition of pressure as a driving force rather than a hindrance spoke volumes about Sonia’s resilience and determination.

Touching on the dynamic music scene in Morocco, Sonia discussed her experiences working in both Casablanca and Rabat. “I work in Casablanca a lot. The music scene there is thriving. It’s very rich. Actually, Moroccan music scene at large is really thriving. For example, in rap, like urban music is exploding on an international scale. Like we have some big names doing big things. Dizzy DROS, there’s Toto,” Sonia shared, her eyes reflecting the passion that fuelled the evolution of Moroccan music. The artists, the themes, and the meticulous work on songs and videos were contributing to a newfound prominence on the global stage.

“We all believe that it’s possible. There’s something special about Morocco“, Sonia mused, capturing the essence of a nation pulsating with a unique energy. She reminisced about the impact of the football World Cup on the collective consciousness, how it served as a catalyst for belief and inspiration, changing the way young Moroccans perceived possibilities.

“It’s funny to talk about it like that. But, for example, what happened during the World Cup, it was like crazy. It’s crazy how something in a specific industry can change how a population… how they relate to what’s possible“, Sonia remarked. The triumphs on the football field became symbolic victories, inspiring a generation to dream big and be confident in their potential.

“The coach really inspired like thousands of young kids. It’s really, really crazy because they grew up saying, okay, they have references, you know, like success stories, Moroccan success stories“, Sonia elaborated, emphasising the transformative power of representation. The digital age, with its platforms like TikTok and streaming services, brought these stories closer to the audience, creating relatable narratives that resonated with the youth.

Continuing our exploration of Morocco, our conversation naturally circled back to the country’s profound influence on Sonia’s music, delving into specific songs. A standout example in this regard is ‘Mra ou Mermora’. “For that song, I joined forces with DJ Mr. Iji, a well-known figure in the Moroccan music scene. I had this idea in mind to create a song celebrating Moroccan women, highlighting their strength and nurturing qualities – a blend of care, strength, and softness. What I truly appreciate about femininity and women, in general, is their ability to be both soft and strong simultaneously. It’s as if they can ground you while taking care of you. So, this track, titled ‘Mra ou Mermora,’ is particularly close to my heart. ‘Mra’ translates to ‘woman,’ and ‘Mra ou Mermora’ would be the equivalent of a woman and a half or like a man and a half. She’s as manly as a man but with that extra feminine spice. It’s a lively and danceable tune, and we even created an acoustic version to give it a different twist”.

When asked about introducing her music to someone who had never listened to it, Sonia navigated the tricky question with grace. “That’s the trickiest question ever. I would say it’s music that tries to speak to the heart. It’s spiritual, yet it has influences of pop, of jazz, of soul. It’s very soulful“, she described, offering a glimpse into the multifaceted nature of her art “It’s soulful music in different languages that tries to be as honest as possible“.