Prior to accepting an invitation to make his new album, Nomad, with Auerbach in Nashville, Bombino had never recorded in a proper studio before. He was unaware of the Black Keys or their music until his manager suggested they head States-ward to cut the follow-up to 2011’s Agadez, the release that introduced him to a Western audience.
In an interview conducted with the assistance of an interpreter via email, the North African expressed his delight at the turn of events. “Recording in Nashville with Dan was a tremendous first studio experience for me and my band.” Bombino describes the ambience as “fun and relaxed” and something that he says he’ll always remember with fondness.
Linguistic barriers between he and Auerbach presented few problems. “My manager speaks English and French, so he would translate, though after a couple of days translation was hardly necessary,” says the newest star from the seemingly ever-growing Saharan firmament, explaining: “We could do all of our work almost without words … there was a very good connection and a great energy in the studio between us.”
Bombino says his new songs discuss “hardship and the need for solidarity, peace, brotherhood and maintaining Tuareg culture as we go further into a modernized world”. He admits these are difficult times in the sub-Saharan region, but points out that almost all Tuaregs strongly reject the Islamic extremists. “It’s very important for the world to understand this,” he stresses. “We’re in favor of peace and freedom and tolerance. We’ve none of the same goals as the extremists.”
Other Tuareg bands have influenced Bombino’s style, most profoundly Tinariwen: “I grew up listening to them and idolizing them. Ibrahim Ag Alhabib’s a very big influence and inspiration for me. He’s the father of Tuareg music today, you could say. The other African artist that influenced me the most is the great Ali Farka Touré from Mali, his music and the way he lived his life for his people.”
Bombino has also listened to some of the old Mississippi Delta blues recordings. “You can easily hear the relationship between Africa and America in the blues,” he says. The guitarist’s playing style, though, perhaps owes as much to rock, with Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopfler obvious references. He also professes to be a Black Keys fan now.
Bombino’s especially looking forward to taking back copies of Nomad to give to friends and family in Niger. “I’m sure soon you will see it in the hands of pirates everywhere and on the radio … it’s like that at home,” he says philosophically.
• The above interview first appeared in Rhythms — Australia’s only dedicated roots music magazine, for which the author is World/Folk correspondent.
Discography: Group Bombino – Guitars from Agadez, vol. 2 (2009), Agamgam 2004 (2010), Agadez (2011),
Nomad
More about Bombino
Author: Tony Hillier
Tony Hillier is based in Cairns in far north Queensland, from where he has been actively involved in all areas of the music industry in Australia for the past 25 years, primarily as a journalist, writing for national publications such as the Weekend Australian and Rhythms magazine (for which he is World Music & Folk correspondent), and performing locally, nationally and internationally with the bands Kamerunga and Snake Gully. He has also presented and produced World Music and Folk music programs for ABC Far North, Port Douglas Radio and 4CCR-FM, netting a CBAA Best Specialist Music Program Award with the last-named for a documentary on flamenco. Before coming to Australia, he was a racing journalist of some repute in the UK, where he wrote a column for the London Evening Standard under the nom-de-plume of Ajax.