Maimouna blends hip hop,

afro jazz and

Native American sounds

to make beautiful melodies

July 15, 2010

By: S. Ann Johnson

photos by Edith Williams, of Diamond Digital Portraits

Ear Candy is a monthly listening party that features some of the best indie soul artists in the nation. Last month’s Ear Candy featured Marcell & The Truth and Maimouna Youssef. Your Baltimore Performing Arts Examiner got a chance to chit chat with both acts. Eavesdrop on her conversation with Maimouna Youssef, below; and Marcell & The Truth, here.

You’ve toured the world with Roots, appeared in Dave Chapelle’s Block Party film, and shared the stage with some incredible artists. What do you attribute the connections you’ve made in the music industry to? Is it being in the right place at the right time?

I think there is a lot of being at the right time at the right place and having a lot of ambition at such a young age.

My name, Maimouna, means lucky [in an unknown language]. I think it is a lot of that. I would meet a lot of people on the humble.

The first record deal that my cousin and I obtained . I met a publicist through Duke Ellington School for The Arts. I played her some of the music that we started recording. I felt like we needed to document what we were doing at the time. It was very raw when I look back on it now . . . how far we were beyond our time. It was a mixture of jazz and hip hop.

My mother’s a jazz singer [ Navasha Daya of Fertile Ground], and my dad is a visual artist. I played with a jazz band in middle school. I had that upbringing. Even now my music features various styles [such as] afro jazz. My mother is Native American, so I listen to a lot of Native American music.

How does your ethnic background influence your music?

It takes me outside of the box in reference to sound. I’m always searching for another sound that evokes a certain emotion. In Native American music, they may imitate the bird, the wind-- they incorporate all sounds of music that the urban environment won’t do. There are no limitations.

I’m always searching for a way to communicate an emotion. The openness of imitating sounds
to me its seamless; it is very natural.

How did winning Baltimore Idol impact you?

When I first heard about the competition I was like ‘Baltimore Idol? That’s going to ruin my street cred.’[laughs] But I think the song that I won on was “When I Fall in Love,” which is a jazz song.

[Winning the competition] brought exposure to the band[ Editor’s note: Maimouna was one half of the group Cirius B, which she formed with her cousin Aziz]. We stared getting more notoriety, shows booked, donations for the album, a record deal, met The Roots.

Before we close, talk to me a little bit about the new album?

I’m working on it right now. It’s changed shape with my growth and development. I started writing the album, and then I didn’t like any of the songs anymore. This summer, I will finish my project. Some of it will be live music. It’s going to be an independent project. It’s independent, but I ‘m not doing it by myself. I have a lot of supportive family and community activists that support the work that I do.

via examiner.com

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Exclusive Interview

Maimouna Youssef:

A person, who is inspired,

can achieve education and

proceed to moving mountains!

BY POPINGCHERRY OCTOBER 24, 2011

The music is inspiration! I love artists who have vision, those who can create musical dreams for me. Maimouna is an artist that I love! It’s amazing that from the first time I listened her music I felt a connection with her! This is the power of music! I feel that I know her and that she knows me, that she creates music just for me! Isn’t this amazing? I found my dreams with her music! Poping cherry presents you an amazing artist! Discover her music! Discover your soul! (Interview: John Vlachogiannis)

Who is Maimouna?

I am a 26 year old singer/songwriter/producer /MC/social activist/ & Mother. I use my gift for music and lyrics to empower, inspire and educate all who choose to lend an open ear and open heart.

Your music has the capacity to “penetrate” in our soul. We can express what we feel through your voice. You are a Black Magic Woman! What can inspire you to create so great music?

I am a very passionate person in all aspects of my life. I am inspired to write by all those things I experience in my life and in the lives of others that touch me deeply. I am inspired by social issues; by love & by the lack thereof, by spiritual awakenings, by Good music, & nature amongst other things. Sitting by the river or just in meditation period, gives me the most peace and inspires me to create music that will be good for the world.

“The Blooming” is an amazing album! How can you describe the album? How you felt during the making of it?

The Blooming is a culmination of moods, colors, textures, and feelings I experienced during the time I was writing the album. Every song, once completed, was a pleasant surprise to me. The Album was #Blooming before my eyes. I was definitely a contributor in the making of this album but I was mostly a vessel for this music and message to come through.

What do you remember most strongly from your childhood? Did you know back then that your life would be full of music? Are you happy now that you are in music?

My mother and grandmother who were both singers, were the strongest forced in my child hood years. They trained me to be the artist and Woman that I am today. I always knew that Music was to be my way of life. That was never a question, even as a 5 year old. In the future I look forward to adding film making to my craft in the near future.

Do you have a message to share with Poping Cherry and everyone else who touched by your music? A promise for the future?

I am so grateful to the beautiful souls who are reading this now, I hope that after listening to “The Blooming” they are filled with so much healing and inspiration to follow their individual callings, and to make this world a more progressive and beautiful place to exist in.

It fills me with so much joy and appreciation to hear people say that they have been moved and inspired by my music. Bob Marley once said “We don’t need education, we need inspiration!” Because an educated person who is not inspired to do good with his education, is no help to the world at all, but an uneducated person who is inspired, can then achieve education amongst other things and proceed to moving mountains!

My challenge to all of your readers Is to never accept mediocrity! Never accept the mundane portraits of conformity. Paint bold, bright, blossoming strokes of color onto the canvas of life everyday and fulfill your calling on the earth at all cost, and Give god the thanks and praise everyday!