Casablanca – YO! Fest’s 13th edition is more than a lineup of performances, with rap, fusion, world music and creative exchange all taking center stage in Rabat.
The festival brought young artists and music enthusiasts together for two masterclasses on September 26, one dedicated to rap and the other to “Fusion and World Music.”
Both sessions put global sounds, songwriting, beat-making, and creative exchange at the center, giving participants a closer look at the ideas and teamwork behind the music they hear on stage.
MWN Lifestyle magazine attended the “Fusion and World Music” masterclass, where Nadin Al Khalidi and members of her band Tarabband opened up about their creative process, performing experiences and life on the road.
Music beyond the stage
The workshop brought together students and emerging artists working across cinema, music, music production and studio production.
Participants were especially curious about how Tarabband creates music collectively, how its members came together, and what keeps them passionate about performing and touring.
But the session quickly moved beyond a traditional Q&A. Tarabband also performed several songs for the participants, turning the masterclass into a live exchange between artists and audience.
“We performed for these students as well, a few of our songs, and we had a great interaction with them,” Al Khalidi said.
Swedish guitarist Andreas Hourdakis, also a member of Tarabband, joined the conversation and reflected on his first experience in Morocco.
His trip to Rabat introduced him to Moroccan artists and sounds he rarely encounters in Sweden. Among them, he singled out the Zagora-based Taymat band, whose festival performance caught his attention.
For Hourdakis, the festival offered more than a chance to perform. It gave him the opportunity to exchange ideas with young people in Morocco and hear the questions they brought into the room.
“Seeing young people who are so engaged in music makes you realize that there’s hope in life,” he said.
A Moroccan welcome
Among the participants was Moroccan singer Fatima Machay from Agadir, who applauded the festival for bringing young artists from different creative fields together.
Machay said she enjoyed Al Khalidi’s masterclass, particularly the conversations around teamwork, the creative process and performing across Arabic, Swedish, and English.
She also welcomed YO! Fest’s efforts to involve young people not only as artists but also as part of the organizing team. For her, Morocco needs more cultural events that give young creatives room to participate, learn, and develop their skills.
And, of course, a masterclass in Morocco would not be complete without a very Moroccan welcome.
As the room filled with “Sla w Slam” and ululations, the cultural exchange took on a distinctly local flavor, blending the international sounds of Tarabband with the warmth of a Moroccan audience.
With its mix of jazz, blues, slam, Gnaoua and rap, YO! Fest continues to create a space where music does more than bring different sounds together. It gives artists and young creatives a chance to meet, exchange ideas, and discover new sides of the musical world.
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