Emel Mathlouthi - Ensen (2017)

Emel Mathlouthi (Emel)'s sophomore album, Ensen. Emel rose to prominence after her 2007 recording "Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)" became a viral anthem during the Arab Spring, earning her the title "voice of the Tunisian revolution" and eventually an invitation to perform at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Her powerful, heartfelt music defies genres, melding together electronica, Tunisian textures and a cinematic universe. Combining the political and the personal, Emel expresses not just her feelings but those of so many people. On Ensen, Emel distills her blend of acoustic and electronic sounds into a style that's even more uniquely her own, citing Ben Frost, Samaris or James Blake as influences. With several producers, including Valgeir Sigursson (Sigur Ros, Feist) and her main collaborator French/Tunisian producer Amine Metani, Emel recorded the new album across seven countries and two continents.