At Natacha’s Melbourne show at the Arts Centre, the audience was treated to this ‘East meets West’ medley, of mesmerizing sounds of love declarations and lament. Among the songs were some old favourites like: Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets from the film of the same name which when performed brought the house to its feet, and people began to dance in the isles to it.
Natacha Atlas was born in Brussels, Belgium to a father of Moroccan, Egyptian, and Palestinian ancestry and a British mother. Atlas speaks Arabic, French, English, and Spanish, and she has uses them all to sing her songs.
She was raised in Brussels, and in Northampton, England. During her performance at the Arts Centre in Melbourne, on the 10th of March, she mentioned that growing up she listened to music in her household, which was both Western and Eastern, and that she was most influenced by the Rahbani Brothers who combined both styles of classical music, and created a beautiful fusion of the two.
Natacha Atlas began her career as a belly dancer and the lead singer of a Belgian salsa band. She first recorded “Timbal” with Balearic Beat on the album ¡Loca!. Natcha became the lead singer and belly dancer for the group Transglobal Underground, which focused on mixing Eastern and Western sounds as well as other styles.
Some songs from her new album: Black is the Colour a traditional Scottish folk song, and La Vida Callada (The Silent Life) sung as a duet with Clara Sanabras who also wrote the song, and its theme/meaning was influenced by a poem written by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
For a petite statured woman as Natacha is, she delivered strong spellbinding vocals which transported one to a magical state of body and mind. When I closed my eyes, I felt as though I was sitting on Maroccan cushions, the air resonating with Middle-Eastern music while the belly dancer swayed her hips and jingled the tambourine.
The musicians backing Natacha Atlas, were highly trained classical musicians from the four corners of the world, lead by the musical director Harvey Brough, who besides being talented in his realm revealed a wicked sense of humour, cracking up both musicians and audience. Not the only one, mind you. The keyboardist sprung a special piece on us, which he prepared that day for Australian audiences. Starting out with a very Eastern-sounding song he masterfully and seamlessly lead into the theme song of the popular soap opera Neighbours which made everyone burst out into roaring laughter… very funny indeed, and unexpected.
The entire experience was a memorable one. Superbly executed music, lyrics, a bit of belly dancing and a touch of light hearted humour. A lovely mix for a memorable evening delivered by a talented group of musicians and the star of the show Natacha Atlas, a citizen of the world.
Natacha Atlas and the Mazeeka Ensemble
Studio album by Natacha Atlas
Ana Hina
Released: 26 May 2008
Genre: World music
Label: World Village
Producer: Harvey Brough
www.natachaatlas.net
