The invitation of producing Sonora in Essaouira came from
the Brazilian Sonora Team, from the artist Mo Maie, on beginning of 2018. It
was an adventure to accept this challenge, that now we see as a very positive
experience, from all participants and public. We chose the version DROP SONORA, that would be suitable of our personal calendars, and also DROP Sonora
would give us opportunity to experiment a smaller version of the Festival outside
Brazil.
The chosen date was 19th June, and was chosen
because its summer in Morocco, there is lot of tourists on the town, and was close to the biggest music festival from
Essaouira: Le Festival de Gnaoua et
Musiques du Monde.
 |
| The square Chrib Atay had a different movement that night: Empower Female Energy! |
Team
The team of Sonora Essaouira is composed by:
Ana Maria Fonseca – Musician, producer, from Brazil
Ashley Edwards – Musician, Producer from USA, from IAMMUSIC
Davis Jones – from
USA, Manatee Collective: responsible for
production, sound engineering, and help us as a musician
Rania Dardane, from Morocco - Hoster of showcase and Pictures
Rania Dardane, from Morocco - Hoster of showcase and Pictures
Veronica,from Spain -
Responsible for promotion and logistics from the restaurant La Mama
Agatha from Holand - on art direction and promotion
Imane Aghoutane, from Morocco – Design of Flyers, promoter
The artists
The artists that made part of Sonora Essaouira 2018 are:
Jihane Bougrine – Morocco – Pop/Arabic Music
 |
| Jihane at the door of La Mama |
Soultana – Morocco - Rap/Hip Hop
 |
| She is a revolutionary! Music is her weapon |
Aia (Maria) – Brazil – World/Brazilian Music
 |
| Featuring the amazing Loki Moon from USA |
Ashley Edwards - USA – Techno Soul Folk Music
 |
| She brings those beats and her sweet voice! |
Binet Ginea – Traditional Gnawa Music
We
invite this young female group from Essaouira, who plays traditional Gnawa
Music, from the most important family from this tradition. Despite they don’t play
their own songs, we felt very important to include them on our program, to
inspire and encourage the youth to go forward on the creation and fusion with the Gnawa Tradition.
 |
| The crowd went crazy and everybody dance!!! Saha Koyo!! |
 |
| She is making an amazing fusion with Gnawa Music... featuring Maalem Simo!! |
Presented by
Sonora International
Festival, IAMMUSIC, EMPOWER YOUR EVOLUTION, Manatee Collective, Association
Essaouira Mogador, the French Institute, La Mama.
About the Festival
Sonora •
International Festival of Women Composers is a festival that began in Brazil in
2016 in order to give visibility and legitimize the presence of women Composers
in the music scene, stimulating their Strengthening through the collective. The
project came from the hashtag #mulherescriando, which was created by Musician DEH
Mussolini to break the common misconception that there are few women composers
and writers, that is, women who create art.
Sonora is
organized through a general/global coordination Center (Mussolini, DEH,
Isabella Bretz and Joana Knobbe) and a local production hub in each city where
it is held. Now, in 76 cities in more than 16 countries, the management and the
production of the Festival is performed by women in a collaborative way, from
and based on the construction of a network of composers-producers.
Sponsors and partners
Chill Art Hostal – Accomodation for guests
Association Essaouira Mogador – Sposorship
Empower your Evolution – Sponsorship
IAMMUSIC – Sponsorship
La Mama – partnership and space for showcase
French Institut – Promotion and partnership for showcase
Association of the square Chrib Atay – partnership and authorization
Government from Essaouira – Security, Partnership, Licences
and authorization
Restaurant of the Chrib Atay – Lunch, teas and dinner.
The event
This is how we develop the day and showcases on 19th
June:
2.
12:00 Artists Lunch
French Institute
3.
16:00 Show French
Institute-Carte Blanche Maria
Outdoor Stage
4.
18:00 Artist Showcase – Jihane
Bougrine
5.
18:30 Artist Showcase –
Chloe Rose Laing
6.
19:00 Artist Showcase-
Ashley Edwards
7.
21:00 Artist Showcase –
Bnet Ginea
8.
22:00 - Artist Showcase – Soultana
9.
22:30 Artist
Dinner
La Mama
10.
23:00 JamSession
Conclusions
The production and realization of DROP SONORA Essaouira was
very successful. All artists and the team is positive about the experience. A nice collaboration was born, specially between the artists, and the Moroccan
musicians and producers are looking forward to keep the production for 2019.
Local cultural representatives are already encouraging our team to produce Sonora
for 2019, and now we know all possibilities we have here in terms of logistics.
We got 100% approval to make more editions from government, press, musicians
and public.
The female energy was the most beautiful transformation on
the artistic scene here. We consider we made an impact on this place and our
visibility are growing.
We are helping man and women to balance FEMALE ENERGY on music and other levels of this society!
Press coverage
1-FRENCH INSTITUT
https://if-maroc.org/essaouira/evenements/musique-carte-blanche/
2-VIVRE ESSAOUIRA
3- VIVRE ESSAOUIRA
4 - LIBERATION
5 - FEMMES DU MAROC
6 - LES INFOS
7 - MAROKINO
8 - MAROK NIOOZ
