Event

Alsarah and the Nubatones at Tropicalia

Alsarah is a woman from Sudan and an artist from all over the world, an international popstar and an ethnomusicologist searching for the roots of her country's musical tradition. In constant migration between different nations and identities, critics have called her the new princess of Nubian Pop, with a seductively refined mood which blends ancient styles with vintage Pop sounds. Backed by her band, the Nubatones, on Friday, December 18, she will warm the hearts of the nation's capital with a special concert at DC's premier global dancehall, Tropicalia. The Guardian has described Alsarah as "the new star of Nubian Pop", labeling her style as "East African Retro Pop", an approach reminiscent of the hazy sounds of Nubian music in the 1960s and 70s, interweaving African melodies and Arab influences, with oriental instruments, soaring vocal melodies and pentatonic modalities. Alsarah & The Nubatones are united by a shared passion for Nubian music and by the genuine conviction that the soul transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. They travel a musical route through exile and migration, observed through an urban lens. The group will play two sets.