DAY 24, 25, 26, 27 MEKNES

We head straight to Meknes to meet up with a London contact, Simon Webster and his wife Moona. They are both musicians (percussion and voice) but have also just opened a brand new Riad (old mansion) hotel in the centre of Meknes called Riad Lahboul. We explain some more the project to them, and we make a plan to record them and some of their band over the next few days.

Simon goes first, on the terrace of their Riad, and lays down an amazing bongo groove on our hiphop track that uses traditional moroccan rhythms - ones that he confesses that have taken him some years to get his head around, despite the fact his CV includes playing with Natasha Atlas and Yasmin Levy.



For Moona's vocal performance, we head out of town to Volubolis to catch the sunset over the stunning Roman ruins there. Amazingly, despite our worries, no wind noise enters the mic and we get some fantastic stuff.

The next day brothers Hassan and Mustafa (voice and bazuki) record with us. Mustafa records some great bazuki flavours andHassan has written a poignant poem about the pain of emmigration and the men and women who die braving the seas to cross over to Europe, dreaming that it will solve all their problems without realising what they leave behind. Teo has a great idea of filming it in total darkness with only his face. Looks like the final result might just be amazing.


Along with the fantastic hospitality at Riad Lahboul and all the great food, we leave Meknes excited for what comes next in Fes.