A couple of weeks ago, we linked up with Moroccan singer-songwriter Tawsen in Casablanca, catching him on set between takes for a series of music videos he’d been planning for weeks. Over the few days we spent following the 27-year-old, we managed to step into his world, slipping into the routine of an upcoming artist made up of early starts, late finishes, and stressful moments that, in hindsight, usually soften into memories. But give any two Arabs boys a pot of tea and a speaker and you can forget about schedules, which at times, was our case.
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In between two cups of atay, and after hours of conversation, we somehow drifted into a game of Would You Rather — the playground classic — tossing each other questions to kill time not out of boredom but as another way to dig deeper and keep the good vibes up. What follows is a transcript of Tawsen’s answers to some of our quick questions.
Would you rather…be in a studio or perform live ?
I think I prefer studio sessions because I’m usually chilling with my friends trying to make good music. I love the idea of making a song that no one will ever, ever hear.
Would you rather…work with a legend or a new talent?
I’ve done both. There’s definitely something cool about working with a legend but I think new talents can bring new sounds. So I think new talent.
Would you rather…sing in Arabic or in French?
Arabic for sure because it’s a richer language. I’m also tired of singing in French. I started singing in French so it feels like I’ve been there already.
Would you rather…stay grounded or dream big?
Who’s said you can’t do both?
Would you rather…record one-shot or with endless revisions?
One-shot. If you’re constantly trying to hit the perfect note, you end up losing some of the magic.
Would you rather…experience fast fame or slow growth?
Sloth growth 100%. There’s a lot of fast famous artists because of TikTok and social media but I really think that huge superstars have a loyal fan base that knows won’t ever leave them no matter what. I hope that I’ll be one of them in the future.
Would you rather…make music from pain or from joy?
There’s something deep in sad songs while joyful songs can feel a little too easy. So I think from pain.
Would you rather… use autotune or sing using just your vocals?
Autotune is everywhere even when you think it isn’t. I love making Raï music for example, and autotune plays an important role in the genre. So I’d say that it depends on the sound I’m after.
Would you rather…be signed to a label or stay independent?
I’m already independent so that choice has already been made.
Picture courtesy of @tonio_art
