[youtube=http://youtu.be/2SczbPzENDU]
Arby’s unofficial title—Queen of Desert Blues—is fully deserved. She pairs her traditionally-rooted songs with a backing band that brings in electric guitar, bass, calabash, ngoni, traditional violin, and trap drum kit. With her soaring, swelling and soulful vocals she sings of love, family, women and the toll of war. When performing her hypnotic tunes, she proves she can easily rival her more well-known cousin, Ali Farka Touré, in creating appealing songs.
Listen: “Sourgou” (Live on KEXP)