Nagaï - Back To My Roots EP (Kaboum Music)

Opening track ‘Forebearers’, with its slow, rolling bass, immediately evokes the feel of a production from the Virgin Islands, and that turns out to be no coincidence: “I draw inspiration from my personal experiences and life journey. I’m lucky to live in a place where nature is always present, and that connection truly inspires me. Many artists influenced me with their conscious lyrics and the way they convey them through reggae music, but I especially appreciate Dezarie. Her powerful voice and deep message really resonate with me!”.

As the EP’s title already suggests, Nagaï doesn’t hesitate to reconnect with her own roots: “The traditional music of Réunion Island is called maloya. It originates from the music of African and Malagasy slaves brought by French colonizers, as well as Indian labourers on the island. On stage, I play the kayanm, a traditional instrument, and I integrate not only the sounds of my island into my music, but also the Creole language of Réunion, my native tongue. This allows me to stay connected to my roots and share the authentic voice of my heritage with the audience.”. The 8-track EP was mixed by none other than Roberto Sánchez, who also contributes two excellent dub versions.