Natacha Atlas

Natacha Atlas (Arabic: نتاشا أطلس, natāšā ʔaṭlas, [nataːʃaː ʔatˤlas]; born 20 March 1964) is an Egyptian-Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "cha'abi moderne" (modern folk music). Her music has been influenced by many styles including Maghrebain, hip hop, drum and bass and reggae. Atlas began her career as part of the world fusion group Transglobal Underground. In 1995, she began to focus on her solo career with the release of Diaspora. She has since released seven solo albums and been a part of numerous collaborations. Her version of "Mon amie la rose" became a surprise success in France, reaching 16 on the French Singles Charts in 1999. Her most recent creation Myriad Road was released on 23 October 2015. It was produced by French Lebanese jazz musician Ibrahim Maalouf. Natacha Atlas was born in Brussels, Belgium of Anglo-Egyptian parentage. Her British mother was raised Christian before adopting Buddhism in the 1970s. Her father, of Egyptian descent, was deeply interested in Sufi mysticism and the Gurdjieff philosophy of the Fourth Way. He also studied Chinese medicine and Taoism. Atlas was raised listening to eclectic music from both eastern and western traditions. Moreover, in the course of her diverse upbringing, the future performer learned to be tolerant of all religions. After her parents separated, Atlas went to live in Northampton, England with her mother. Atlas grew up speaking Frenc…