BIOGRAPHY:
SMADJ
Why « Smadj » because of his real name Smadja ( born in Tunisia, raised in France) not so hard to find his artist name…Smadj’s musical development came to be characterized by transforming jazz styles into eclectic sounds or the contrary. This interest in the mechanics of making music led Smadj to pursue a degree in sound engineering, which led to a fruitful career as a recording & sound engineer for famous classical and folk musicians.
Releasing his first album in 1994 with crazy 8 pieces band called Tatoom, it wasn’t until 2000 that Smadj became recognized on an international scale(Melt 2000) for his signature blending of acoustic and electronic sounds on Equilibriste(featuring some of the best french jazz musicians: Magic Malik, François Thullier, Cyril Atef, Stefano di Baptista…) , which would ascend on the European World Music Charts to the number 4 position.
In 2002, Smadj joined fellow ud magician, Mehdi Haddab(Ekova , Speed Caravan), for a special project that would transport the oud to the 21st century in DuOuD. Supporting their triumph of an album with a 2 year world tour, the album also received 2nd place in the Best Album category at the prestigious BBC World Music Awards.
In 2003, Smadj joined master percussionist Burhan Öçal for « Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars featuring Smadj », the album and the tour was a huge success in Turkey and everywhere and the album is considered as a classic now…this is the producer side…Musician and Sound engineer…
In 2004 Smadj released his 3rd album « Take it and Drive » with an English record label Most record, lounge electronic music album which involved Talvin Singh , Amit Chatterjee, Rokia Traoré…made in hotels rooms and plebiscite by few sound reviews…?!Sound is a mystery
The same year he continues his work as a producer album with Laurent de wilde(one of the best french jazz player) : Stories
In 2005 He released the album " Sakkat " with Mehdi Haddab recorded in Yemen with the Yemeni traditional musicians during a residency duo stopped in Sanaa, fascinated by the unique way of playing the oud and poems sung
OK STOP…!
This crazy guy never stops experiencing meetings and imaginary guide his musical life…
So few albums and stories later Smadj’s dreams come true, the release of his fifth album with Erik Truffaz and Talvin Singh, a trio dedicated dedicated to love….
Since then he has worked on traditional and sacred music with his Alevi friend, Cem Yildiz( released in Turkey in March 2010 and 2011 in France )
He also composed a creation " The oud according Smadj " performed in St Denis Basilica in June 2010 including Natacha Atlas , Ibrahim Maalouf, Cem Yildiz, Mehdi Haddab , Alok Verma, a string ensemble , the album is ready …..to be released
Still surprising , released end of 2012, he concocted " Fuck the DJ " , an ode to dance music where Disco, dubstep, house ... played by a boisterous team——— don’t meet them on tour ...
The last album "Spleen" was released the june 2015 with the french label "Jazzvillage" with few very good jazz players like Bojan Z and Ibrahim Maalouf...and was well received by the radios and press.
He's already working on a his next project : An oud solo: Oud Solotronic...
AND.......
== Discography ==
* Smadj "Spleen" (Jazzvillage/Harmonia Mundi/06/15)
* Smadj "Block party E.P."(Bosphoruslove)
* Smadj « Fuck the Dj »(Smadj0001)
* Smadj « Selin » (MVS/Bassofone/06/2009 )
* DuOuD « Ping kong » (world village/02/2009)
* Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars featuring Smadj(Onyamya Geldik-Doublemoon 2006)
* DuOud & Abdulatif Yagoub - "Sakat" (Label Bleu 2006)
* Smadj « Smadj presents SOS » (Doublemoon 2005)
* Burhan Öcal(New dream/2004)
* Smadj « Take It And Drive » (Most Records 2004)
* Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars featuring Smadj - Krklareli Il Snr (Doublemoon 2003)
* Laurent de Wilde-Stories-( Warner jazz 2003 )
* DuOuD Wild Serenade (Label Bleu 2002)
* Smadj « New deal »(Electric M.E.L.T 2000)
* Artkonik- Vendetta society- (Comet 2000)
* Smadj « Equilibriste » (M.E.L.T. 2000, 1999)
Why « Smadj » because of his real name Smadja ( born in Tunisia, raised in France) not so hard to find his artist name…Smadj’s musical development came to be characterized by transforming jazz styles into eclectic sounds or the contrary. This interest in the mechanics of making music led Smadj to pursue a degree in sound engineering, which led to a fruitful career as a recording & sound engineer for famous classical and folk musicians.
Releasing his first album in 1994 with crazy 8 pieces band called Tatoom, it wasn’t until 2000 that Smadj became recognized on an international scale(Melt 2000) for his signature blending of acoustic and electronic sounds on Equilibriste(featuring some of the best french jazz musicians: Magic Malik, François Thullier, Cyril Atef, Stefano di Baptista…) , which would ascend on the European World Music Charts to the number 4 position.
In 2002, Smadj joined fellow ud magician, Mehdi Haddab(Ekova , Speed Caravan), for a special project that would transport the oud to the 21st century in DuOuD. Supporting their triumph of an album with a 2 year world tour, the album also received 2nd place in the Best Album category at the prestigious BBC World Music Awards.
In 2003, Smadj joined master percussionist Burhan Öçal for « Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars featuring Smadj », the album and the tour was a huge success in Turkey and everywhere and the album is considered as a classic now…this is the producer side…Musician and Sound engineer…
In 2004 Smadj released his 3rd album « Take it and Drive » with an English record label Most record, lounge electronic music album which involved Talvin Singh , Amit Chatterjee, Rokia Traoré…made in hotels rooms and plebiscite by few sound reviews…?!Sound is a mystery
The same year he continues his work as a producer album with Laurent de wilde(one of the best french jazz player) : Stories
In 2005 He released the album " Sakkat " with Mehdi Haddab recorded in Yemen with the Yemeni traditional musicians during a residency duo stopped in Sanaa, fascinated by the unique way of playing the oud and poems sung
OK STOP…!
This crazy guy never stops experiencing meetings and imaginary guide his musical life…
So few albums and stories later Smadj’s dreams come true, the release of his fifth album with Erik Truffaz and Talvin Singh, a trio dedicated dedicated to love….
Since then he has worked on traditional and sacred music with his Alevi friend, Cem Yildiz( released in Turkey in March 2010 and 2011 in France )
He also composed a creation " The oud according Smadj " performed in St Denis Basilica in June 2010 including Natacha Atlas , Ibrahim Maalouf, Cem Yildiz, Mehdi Haddab , Alok Verma, a string ensemble , the album is ready …..to be released
Still surprising , released end of 2012, he concocted " Fuck the DJ " , an ode to dance music where Disco, dubstep, house ... played by a boisterous team——— don’t meet them on tour ...
The last album "Spleen" was released the june 2015 with the french label "Jazzvillage" with few very good jazz players like Bojan Z and Ibrahim Maalouf...and was well received by the radios and press.
He's already working on a his next project : An oud solo: Oud Solotronic...
AND.......
== Discography ==
* Smadj "Spleen" (Jazzvillage/Harmonia Mundi/06/15)
* Smadj "Block party E.P."(Bosphoruslove)
* Smadj « Fuck the Dj »(Smadj0001)
* Smadj « Selin » (MVS/Bassofone/06/2009 )
* DuOuD « Ping kong » (world village/02/2009)
* Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars featuring Smadj(Onyamya Geldik-Doublemoon 2006)
* DuOud & Abdulatif Yagoub - "Sakat" (Label Bleu 2006)
* Smadj « Smadj presents SOS » (Doublemoon 2005)
* Burhan Öcal(New dream/2004)
* Smadj « Take It And Drive » (Most Records 2004)
* Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars featuring Smadj - Krklareli Il Snr (Doublemoon 2003)
* Laurent de Wilde-Stories-( Warner jazz 2003 )
* DuOuD Wild Serenade (Label Bleu 2002)
* Smadj « New deal »(Electric M.E.L.T 2000)
* Artkonik- Vendetta society- (Comet 2000)
* Smadj « Equilibriste » (M.E.L.T. 2000, 1999)