Khaira-Arby

"Shrouded in regal colors, she presides over a small army of brilliant African musicians, who create a hypnotic backdrop for her gloriously swooping vocals. It feels a little silly to think of her as a frontwoman — the mere lead singer of some band — on the live stage, she's all showmanship and command." Stephen Thompson, NPR Music - Stephen Thompson

"On “Timbuktu Tarab” (Clermont Music), her singing ricochets against eager backup choruses and lead-guitar lines that can hint at both Hendrix and Ali Farka Touré. Her band, mixing Western and African instruments, clearly knows its rock and reggae but keeps its African perspective, while a sinewy production flaunts every contrapuntal cascade. It’s world music that grabs and doesn’t let go." Jon Pareles, New York Times - New York Times

“Arby is one of Mali's most widely respected female singers and has a powerful style influenced by both southern Malian traditions and Arabic melisma.” Joe Tangari, Pitchfork - Pitchfork