Sabrina Bellaouel - Al Hadr [CD]

Format: CD
Catalogue No.: iF1080
Barcode: 3516628410222  
Release Date: 03 Mar 2023
Genre: Electronic

On Al Hadr, Sabrina Bellaouel taps into myriad influences: from spirituality, astrology to club culture, romance, the body and self-love. Creating a balance between places, identities and sounds is a huge part of the charm of Al Hadr. As a true Libra, she’s finding a balance between honoring her roots and carving out her future.

Following two solo EPs, also on InFiné — 2020’s We Don’t Need To Be Enemies and 2021’s Libra — the French-Algerian producer and vocalist’s unique style of electronic R&B blossoms with Al Hadr, a 13-track album featuring collaborations with dance producer Basile3, experimental club DJ and writer Crystallmess, jazz musician Monomite and pop singer Bonnie Banane, among others.

Born, raised and based in Bagneux, outside the southern périphérique of Paris, Bellaouel lives between worlds. At home, her Algerian heritage and Muslim faith have fused tight familial bonds and a keen sense of history and culture; as “Berbers”, she speaks French and Arabic. In her headphones, she finds comfort in the sparse experimentalism of Radiohead and romantic tales of Jill Scott. On the hot club dance floors of Paris, driving house beats connect her to her body.

In swirling these private and public passions together on Al Hadr — which translates from Arabic as “the present time” — Bellaouel is the most vulnerable she’s ever been on record. Classic neo-soul and silken R&B blend with club electronics. Tender harmonies are sung and rhymes are spoken in English, French and Arabic, exploring love, faith and identity. Samples of drum machines are the backbone for wisps of woodwind, strings, keys and environmental ‘found sounds’, including Bellaouel’s own live recordings.

Creating a balance between places, identities and sounds is a huge part of the charm of Al Hadr. As a true Libra, she’s finding a balance between honoring her roots and carving out her future.

Tracklist : A SIDE (21’20’') A1_ BODY A2_ JAH A3_ SHOP A4_ PERIOD POINT BLANK A5_ KESH A6_ CLEMENCE B SIDE (19’30’') B1_ RAPTURE B2_ LEGIT B3_ ECLIPSE B4_ TRUST B5_ AL HADR B6_ GOODBYE

Tracklist CD: 1_Tanger 2_Body 3_Jah 4_Shop 5_Period Point Blank 6_Kesh Feat. Crystallmess 7_Clémence 8_Rapture 9_Legit 10_Eclipse 11_Trust 12_Al Hadr 13_Goodbye Feat. Bonnie Banane

More From This Artist: Sabrina Bellaouel