Rabat – Moroccan-born, New York-based musician Samir LanGus is heading into another Grammy season with his latest project, submitting “Gnawa Love” for consideration in Best Global Music Album and “To Leyla” for Best Global Music Performance.
LanGus announced the submissions on Instagram, marking another international chapter for an artist whose music brings Moroccan Gnawa traditions together with jazz, blues, funk, and contemporary sounds.
Released on February 13, “Gnawa Love” the 11-track albumdraws on the singer’s childhood in Ait Melloul, Morocco and his experiences living and making music in the United States.
From Ait Melloul to New York
LanGus’s connection to Gnawa music goes back to his childhood in Morocco, where he encountered the tradition that would later become central to his musical identity.
He learned from Gnawa maalems including Maalem Hamid El Kasri, whose influence has remained important to his musical development. Today, LanGus combines the traditional guembri and Gnawa rhythms with elements of jazz, funk and contemporary music.
That combination also shapes “Gnawa Love,” which brings together musicians from different musical backgrounds.
The album includes collaborations with Hamid El Kasri, Trinidadian jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles, producer and artist Proda, and Brazilian samba collective Miamibloco. Tracks such as “Habibi,” “Aicha” and “Trance” further explore the album’s mix of musical influences.
‘To Leyla’ joins the submission
The album’s third track, “To Leyla” is also part of LanGus’s Grammy submission in the Best Global Music Performance category.
The song runs for approximately two and a half minutes and was released alongside the rest of Gnawa Love
The 69th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 7, 2027. For now, “Gnawa Love” and “To Leyla” remain submissions for consideration, with the Grammy process still ahead.
