TERAKAFT

Comprised of two original members of Tinariwen, their sound is perhaps a more intense, purposeful slant on the desert-rock sound, with the subject matter of the songs adding an urgency to the delivery and the intensity of the beats, creating an atmosphere that celebrates a culture rich in artistry and diversity.

Formed in 2001 and hailing from Kidal, Mali, Terakaft are a genuine Tuareg desert rock band sculpted by the rolling sands of the Sahara: weathered, dusty, relentless, endless. Through droning guitars, pulsating rhythms, and powerful, mournful vocals, Terakaft – ‘Caravan’ in their mother tongue – tell tales of a nomadic people, of families displaced, of violence, loss, sadness and defiance. And they do so in a way that creates a united sound which carries within it the spirit of victory, even while singing of defeat. Wild riffs, searing and searching eastern-tinged melodies, three voices singing in harmony, and the ever present soul of the blues.