Emel: Feminist Sound & Revolutionary Voice

Emel, icon of the Jasmine Revolution, returns with a bold feminist album blending hyper-pop, hip-hop, electronica and reggaeton, a powerful rebirth.

Tunisian singer-songwriter Emel Mathlouthi first rose to prominence during the 2011 Tunisian uprising with “Kelmti Horra” (“My Word Is Free”), sung a cappella in the streets of Tunis and embraced as a revolutionary anthem. From that moment on, she has followed a singular artistic path, rooted in the protest traditions of figures such as Cheikh Imam and Marcel Khalifé, while drawing on the legacy of American folk icons like Joan Baez. Her music blends Arabic heritage with electronic, folk and rock influences.

Her latest album, MRA (“woman” in Arabic), opens a bold new chapter. Created with an entirely female and queer creative team, it functions as both manifesto and celebration. The album brings together trap African rhythms, hip-hop, batucada, Arabic reggaeton and drum’n’bass, carried by Emel’s powerful voice. Singing in Arabic, English and French, she moves freely across genres, using rhythm and melody as tools of resistance and empowerment. “My voice has no limits, my voice has no end,” she declares.

With MRA, Emel Mathlouthi affirms her role as more than a musician: a cultural force, Tunisian by origin yet global in vision, rooted yet constantly reinventing, forging an inclusive space where women and queer creators claim visibility, reshape narratives, and invite listeners to listen, move, reflect and act.

Production year 2025
Genre Live Show
Duration 1h47
Recording location The Moods, Zurich