Le Guess Who? Festival Stories

On the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2023, the festival features the first international performance of Ndox Electrique, whose music is inspired by an ancient ritual of the spirit-world originating from Senegal’s n’döep ceremonies. 

Here, Atiyyah Khan, an arts journalist, researcher and DJ from Johannesburg, introduces the group and provides context to the origins of this healing ritual that connects so strongly to their sound. 

Words & audio by Atiyyah Khan
Photography by Gianna Greco & François R. Cambuzat

Born in Palestine and currently based in Paris, Kamilya Jubran is one of the most revered figures in the experimental and alternative Arabic music scenes. 

Through her multi-disciplinary work, Jubran continues to inspire a new generation of both musicians and audiences. One of those musicians is Sandy Chamoun, part of the Lebanese group SANAM who are also performing at Le Guess Who? 2023. We asked Sandy Chamoun to share a personal introduction to Kamilya Jubran’s life and work.

Words & audio by Sandy Chamoun
Photography by Alexia Fiasco

Having been born to seven consecutive generations of qawwals (those who perform the ancient form of religious Sufi music from Pakistan and Northern India - Punjab - known as qawwali), Faiz Ali Faiz was raised on the practice.

After having performed at Le Guess Who? in 2021, we asked Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab, whose work is inspired by Sufi poets and musicians that came before her, to interview Faiz Ali Faiz. They talked about his background story, what music means to him, and about pushing the boundaries of what qawwali can be.

Words & audio by Arooj Aftab
Photography by Lucien Lung

Rotterdam based-DJ collective AMPFEMININE scours its diverse database to bring an evening of fresh feminine energy to this year’s Le Guess Who? proving that female and non-binary DJs are out there, they just need the space - and community - to flourish .

Words & audio by Cheri Percy
Photography by Tengbeh Kamara

For 16 years and counting, Le Guess Who? has strived to create a space for generations of music lovers and makers to come together. A podium, where icons of their trade not just pass the baton to those that carve out a new path – but where they engage on eye-level.

This year, the Le Guess Who? line-up once again boasts an array of young artists and newer acts that, all in their own way, recalibrate their musical and cultural heritage, and create a whole new thing on top of it. Their contribution to the world of music may come in different forms: be it field recordings and experimental composition, intricate raps, club-ready Egyptian street sounds, or celestial Harp&B. What they all share is an infallible sensibility for their roots, and a clear vision for where they’re headed.

Words by Julian Brimmers
Audio by Cheri Percy

Ahead of its 15th Anniversary Edition, Cheri Percy speaks to the co-founders of forward-thinking festival Le Guess Who? about its evolution from a two-man team to an award-winning movement. Boundary-breaking artists and former guest curators Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother) and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem In My Heart) also weigh in alongside local figureheads Margriet van Kraats and Marlies Timmermans to explain why Utrecht's annual music event has since become home to music fans across the globe. 

Words & audio: Cheri Percy
Music (live at Le Guess Who?): Minyo Crusaders, Suuns, Makaya McCraven, Beverly Copeland, Alabaster dePlume, Selda Bağcan
Photography: Jelmer de Haas
Thanks to Camae Ayewa, Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, Margriet van Kraats and Marlies Timmermans

Already at an early age, Lole Montoya decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to singing. But not only did she indeed become a singer, she also redefined the flamenco genre by bringing in new influences, genres and poetry. Her skill has been displayed across a long repertoire, which includes her work as part of the renowned duo Lole y Manuel, surely one of the most important musical duos in popular Spanish music.

This year, Lole Montoya gives a rare performance at Le Guess Who? as part of the Hidden Musics program. We asked Marina Herlop, a Barcelona-based musician, singer and sound artist, to give a personal introduction to Lole Montoya’s music, vision and in the end: to her life’s work.

Words & audio by Marina Herlop

This November, Le Guess Who? will feature a special performance by Cheikha Rabia, a renowned singer with over five decades of experience in reinventing rai music. Her performance will be a collaboration with Esraa Warda, a prolific dancer expert in traditional North African dance forms. Both artists hail from Algeria, but currently, Cheikha Rabia lives in Paris. 

After having performed at Le Guess Who? in 2019, we asked Yasmine Dubois - also known as Lafawndah -, a singer, songwriter, producer and director to visit Cheikha Rabia at home in Paris. There, they talked about Rabia's background story, what rai means to her, and the refreshing opportunities that pure coincidence offer. 

Words by Lafawndah
Audio by Cheri Percy (music recorded by Lafawndah during interview)
Photography by Alexia Fiasco

This November, Rotterdam post-punk quintet Rats on Rafts bring their multi-disciplinary spectacle, Visions of Chapter 3, to Le Guess Who? 2022 for its first public-facing debut.

Cheri Percy spoke to the band’s David Fagan about how the project developed while the world was in a state of flux, as well as Rotterdam as outsider city and painting pictures in your brain.

Words & audio by Cheri Percy
Rats on Rafts audio courtesy of the band 
Photography by Jasmijn Slegh

Forget Detroit, Chicago, and Berlin for a minute. Some of the most exciting electronic music records are being cut in the capital of Uganda, Kampala, and many are coming out of label Nyege Nyege Tapes. The collective is committed to shedding light on some of the best outsider music made in Kampala and all around East Africa.

This November (2021), Le Guess Who? is drawing attention to the label, featuring performances from some of Nyege Nyege Tapes’ most irreverent names, such as Kenyan black metal project Duma (who are curated by Phil Elverum for the festival). The Kampala label will also bring the heat to Utrecht with Hakuna Kulala’s Club Night, in which names from the futuristic sub-label, like Turkana and Diaki, will surely shine bright.

This November (2021), Le Guess Who? will feature a rare performance (their first European show in over 15 years) of Egypt’s Mazaher: a small group of mostly women musicians and singers who play Zãr music: chanting songs and playing hypnotic polyrhythms used in a ceremonial event to cleanse the spirits and to clear away illness and discomfort.

We very much want to introduce you to the Egyptian ensemble, but figured that Nadah El Shazly is in a much better position to do so, since her connection to the group goes back much further. Nadah El Shazly is a producer, vocalist and sound artist from Cairo who previously performed at Le Guess Who? 2017, as part of Jerusalem In My Heart’s curation. She visited and spoke to the ensemble at Makan, Egyptian Center for Culture and Arts in Cairo.

Words & audio by Nadah El Shazly
Mazaher footage courtesy of Ajabu! Records

John Dwyer (OSEES, Bent Arcana) is one of the guest curators for Le Guess Who? 2021. His stirring program includes Brigid Dawson, whom he played with for years. Dawson released the debut record of her The Mother’s Network project last year via Castleface Records and will be taking the festival stage with Sunwatchers.

Ahead of their performances at Le Guess Who?, Bant Mag. invited John and Brigid to have a conversation about their songwriting methods, memories of touring, finding solace in classical music, good birthday presents and much more. Listen to their conversation, or read the full article here.

Conversation on initiative of Bant Mag.
Audio introduction by Cheri Percy