Ayrad (pronounced “hi-e-rad”) is a Canadian world music group from Montreal, who play a modern spin on traditional Moroccan music.[1] Led by vocalist Hamza Abouabdelmajid, band members include Annick Beauvais on oboe, bass and reita; Gabriel Brochu-Lajoie on bass and double bass; Anit Ghosh on violin; Kattam Laraki-Côté on percussion; and Sylvain Plante on drums.[1]
Ayrad | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | world music, Moroccan music |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | COOP Les Faux-Monnayeurs |
| Members | Hamza Abouabdelmajid Annick Beauvais Gabriel Brochu-Lajoie Anit Ghosh Kattam Laraki-Côté Sylvain Plante |
| Website | https://ayradband.com |
History edit
Ayrad was organized in 2008 by Hamza Abouabdelmajid, who moved to Canada from Morocco in 2005. In July 2013, Ayrad was featured on the CBC Radio program Cinq à Six.[2]
The band's debut album, Ayrad,[3] which was released in 2014,[1] was a nominee for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015, and a nominee for a Félix Award at ADISQ 2015.[4] That year, the album was also nominated for a GAMIQ Award for Best Roots Album in Quebec[5] and was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award.[6]
In 2018, the band released their second album, Zoubida which was nominated for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2019.[7] At the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards, the band was awarded World Group of the Year.[8]
In 2018 Ayrad performed in North Vancouver as part of the North Shore Jazz Series,[9] and performed at Montreal's Festival International Nuits d'Afrique.[10] Ayrad was the first performer named for the 2020 Festival International de Louisiane, but the festival was canceled due to the pandemic.[11]
Discography edit
- Ayrad (2014), COOP Les Faux-Monnayeurs
- Zoubida (2018), COOP Les Faux-Monnayeurs
References edit
- ^ a b c "Ayrad brings hybrid sound to The Boathouse". The Record, April 3, 2015.
- ^ "Cinq à Six in the Summer: Zal Idrissa Sisokho and Ayrad" CBC Radio, July 13, 2013
- ^ "Ayrad – Ayrad". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "New band Magic nabs five Juno nominations"]. The Telegraph Journal, January 29, 2015.
- ^ "Le GAMIQ fête ses 10 ans dimanche!". Baron Magazine, Nov 27, 2015
- ^ "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announce 2015 Nominees". Exclaim!, Alex Hudson, Sep 09, 2015
- ^ "Printer-Friendly Nominees & Winners". The JUNO Awards. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Kitching, Heather (5 April 2020). "2020 Canadian Folk Music Award winners, April 2020". rootsmusic.ca. Roots Music Canada. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "North Van Civic Plaza Gets Jazzy". North Shore News. June 23, 2018
- ^ "Ayrad". festivalnuitsdafrique.com. Festival International Nuits d'Afrique. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ Dodge, Victoria. "First artist announced...Jan. 2020". theadvertiser.com. Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 24 October 2021.