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Baker's Dozen

Heal Your Soul: Fatoumata Diawara's Favourite Music
Adam Quarshie , April 29th, 2020 09:09

Acclaimed Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara talks Adam Quarshie through her favourite records, explaining the influence of powerful female vocalists from both the United States and from Mali's Wassoulou region.

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Ella Fitzgerald  - Blue Moon
Ella Fitzgerald - I love her voice! She's very strong, she's beautiful. The words are so poetic, the image of the blue moon. I like to listen to those women [Nina, Billie and Ella] because they're very relaxed when they sing. At the same time, there's something boiling inside. I recognise myself in them because when you listen to my records, I'm a very relaxed girl, very simple. But behind all that kindness, behind the soft voice, there's something very heavy. I'm still in love with this feeling. They've got the real blues - the blues voice, feeling and soul.