Izouran (Tachelhit for 'veins’) is a Moroccan experimental pop project born from an encounter between Moroccan multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Hicham Ounamir Ibourk and Berlin-based Polish percussionist Borys Slowikowski. Based both in traditional and post-modern musics, they delve into original material rooted in Souss tradition, exploring its organic experimental qualities.
The origins
In 2023, as part of the ’Doom Mood: audio-dances for Climate Grieving’ project under the program NEUSTART KULTUR, Borys and Hicham began their collaboration researching the rich tradition of Ahwach. Set in the outdoor surroundings of Amazer village, they embarked on their initial recordings and exchanged ideas. Both deeply rooted in folk music, they realized their shared aspiration to push the boundaries of their respective genres and artistic practices.
In Morocco, pop and folk music coexist on a spectrum from traditional heritage preservation to innovative fusion. Folk music engagement often entails individuals contributing their voices to centuries-old practices. This folk-influenced popular music mirrors daily life, adapting to external influences and addressing current issues (like chaâbi pieces about COVID-19 or Ahwach chants on artists’ financial struggles).
We welcome those who come to us (EP)
Expanding upon the openness and eclecticism of Moroccan pop, as well as their urge for innovation, the Polish-Moroccan duo invited Berlin-based musicians – Brendan Dougherty, Penelope Gkika, Maroulita de Kol, Maritina Buntspecht and Adam Goodwin, adding layered dimensions to the field recordings captured in Amazer. This collaborative effort culminated in the creation of our EP, ’We welcome those who come to us.’ The development of this material took place remotely, with decisions shaped via WhatsApp discussions.
Each of the Berlin-based project members boasts extensive experience both in traditional music, such as Greek, Polish, Moroccan, and Irish, and sound experimentation, encompassing free improvisation, sound installations, electronic music, trash-disco, and Western contemporary music. This fusion of traditions and experimental approaches yielded intriguing tools for perceiving and relating to traditional repertoire. Encountering Hicham’s tradition-derived material, they collectively determined that Moroccan Pop would become their new experimental frontier. These seemingly straightforward, rhythm-driven tunes challenged their musical conventions of both 'pop’ and 'experiment,’ compelling them to evolve in unforeseen directions.
The Amazer-Berlin recordings are driven by Hicham’s melodic lines, his voice, and his grounded energy. In these recordings, we aim to blend the ancient and contemporary by staying true to the principles of the genre as much as possible, while humbly exploring sound qualities, adding field recordings, found objects, and a 'deconstructed’ drum set. That sets the basis for the project and marks the initial area of exploration: to push the boundaries of pop music (both Western and Moroccan), centering the focus on rhythmics and groove, embracing the relationality and synergic approach to musicality. This way we also wish to inspire new ideas and practices into avant-garde music, thus contributing to its decentralization.
Currently the ensemble consists of five members: Hicham Ounamir Ibourk on lotar, banjo, vocals, Borys Slowikowski on drums, Evi Filippou on drums, Penelope Gkika on violin, and Adam Goodwin on electric bass.
