Bab L’ Bluz, meaning “The Door of the Blues,” is a Franco-Moroccan group formed in 2018 in Marrakech when Moroccan singer/guitarist Yousra Mansour met French guitarist/producer Brice Bottin. Driven by their passion for Gnawa music, they learned the guembri together, creating a fusion of French and Moroccan influences that birthed a repertoire of 10 tracks.

With their electric guembris, Bab L’ Bluz combines Gnawa trance rhythms, Hassani songs from southern Morocco, and Chaâbi polyrhythms, infusing their music with elements of psychedelic rock and incense-filled atmospheres. Led by a female doukkalia, the group aligns with the “Nayda” movement of Moroccan youth, promoting local heritage and singing freedom-inspired texts in Moroccan-Arabic dialect, darija.

Since their inception, the quartet has been active globally, captivating audiences with their hypnotic riffs and mystical, liberating performances. Bab L’ Bluz’s poetic and powerful music transcends boundaries, expanding into a sonic territory of its own.

In 2020, they gained acclaim with their album Nayda!, earning top rankings and reviews from Mojo, Songlines, The New York Times, Vogue Arabia, BBC, and others. The following year, they won their first Songlines Music Award and embarked on a world tour that continues to captivate audiences.

Their new album Swaken was released on May 10, 2024.

Photo by Samadoss Maitoul.