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Tamikrest is a Malian rock band formed in 2006 in Tinzaouaten, a town on the border between Algeria and Mali, by Ousmane Ag Mossa, Cheikh Ag Tiglia, and Aghaly Ag Mohamedine. Influenced by the musical heritage of Tinariwen and motivated by the desire to give a stronger voice to the Kel Tamasheq (Tuareg people) people, the group quickly gained recognition.
Their first two albums, "Adagh" (2010) and "Toumastin" (2011), displayed a strong sense of melody and songwriting. The addition of Paul Salvagnac for their third album, "Chatma," contributed to a shift toward a more powerful rock sound. Dedicated to the struggles of women in the Sahara, "Chatma" was acclaimed by music critics as a significant work in the Ishumar music genre and won the Songlines Award for Best Album of the Year in 2013.
With "Kidal" (2017) and "Tamotait" (2020), Tamikrest further emphasized its deep connection to Tamasheq traditions while embracing the energy of rock. The band's music, blending hypnotic trance and melody, is especially impactful in live performances.
Through numerous tours across Europe, Africa, North and South America, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, Tamikrest has established itself as an important figure in African music and on the international rock stage.
In their early years, they played the traditional music of the Kel Tamasheq, as the Tuareg call themselves, as well as the songs of Tinariwen, a Tuareg band that had already blended African traditional music with Western rock in the 1980s. Through the internet and the spread of mp3 culture, the members of Tamikrest discovered artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, and Mark Knopfler, all of whom influenced the development of Tamikrest's distinctive sound.
A chance meeting with the American-Australian band Dirtmusic at the Festival au Désert in 2008, held in Essakane near Timbuktu, led to a friendship and musical collaboration. When Dirtmusic recorded their second album, "BKO," in a studio in Bamako in 2010, Tamikrest was invited to contribute to the recording. Chris Eckman, a member of Dirtmusic and The Walkabouts, produced "Adagh," Tamikrest's debut album. In 2010, both bands toured Europe together and performed at festivals such as Sziget Festival and Orange Blossom Special, the latter organized by their label Glitterhouse Records. In October 2010, Chris Eckman also produced Tamikrest's second album, "Toumastin," which was released in April 2011.
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