EP133 - Souad Massi, Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Paul Weller Collaboration - Let Me Be In Peace

On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I’m joined by Franco-Algerian singer-songwriter and guitarist Souad Massi.

Souad began her career fronting the Kabyle political rock band Atakor, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker in an Algeria torn apart by civil war.

After fleeing to Paris following a series of death threats, she performed at the 1999 Femmes d'Algérie to great acclaim, earning her first recording contract.

She has forged her reputation over the course of a career spanning more than 20 years.

Driven by an unfailing determination to speak out for what she values most: freedom and justice.

Her songs are steeped in love, altruism and bravery.

Our Paul Weller connection comes in the 2000's - with Paul telling Uncut magazine in July 2008: "I've recently developed a bit of a thing about tango. I love that music. It's really emotional, passionate music. And in soundchecks we often mess about with tango and bolero rhythms. Again, Simon ( Dine ) had a backing track and I had a tune in my head and we started jamming on it. The melody is quite influenced by an Algerian singer called Souad Massi, who's been a huge inspiration recently."

As you’ll hear on the podcast, this led to the two of them creating music together at Black Barn Studio.

Resulting in a beautiful song called Let Me In Peace which featured as the last track on Souad’s album Ô Houria (Liberty).

Find out more in the show notes for this podcast on my website at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/episode-133-souad-massi

And if you want to support the podcast financially, you can buy me a virtual coffee at paulwellerfanpodcast.com/store

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