Traveling to Tunisia as one out of the three destinations, has never been up for debate. I was decided to go there from the beginning!

Besides that fact that I really love arabic music and chant, Tunisia also represents my long lost roots. My father was born in le Kram, left the country as a Teenager and never returned. Some years ago I traveled there to finally get to know my family on my own…

In order to find musicians in Tunisia I contacted the Goethe Institut in Tunis. My emails were forwarded to a Cello and singing teacher at the Conservatory in Tunis – Mme Saddem – who I need to thank for being so helpful and nice. After emailing back and forth we finally arranged a meeting in the Conservatory where she introduced me to some of her students. I recorded Farouk and Kacem playing Cello (absolutely wonderful!) and through them I met Seifeddine who played the flute for me. Thank you guys!

In Sidi Bou Said I followed a young girl into the music school. It turned out that she takes Oud lessons there. Her name was Salma and again, I need to thank her for all her time and those beautiful sounds that she let me record!

»Qui pense à moi« – Who is thinking of me? »Respire le vent« – Breathe the wind!
»C‘est de la folie« –This is madness! »Qui pense à moi« – Who is thinking of me?
»Ferme tes yeux!« – Close your eyes!

Tunisia’s streets are demanding to manage an enormous sound scenery where your thoughts go wild and sometimes end up in chaos! I was experiencing a mixture of exhaustion and enjoyment. The song »Babalouni« is almost entirely made out of field recordings and the recordings of the instruments, my cousin Karima and her sister in law – Azza – singing.

»Babalouni« is a journey through the streets of le Kram, somewhat experimental. Close your eyes and go travel yourself!

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