Morocco World Music Map: Dystinct's quest for love and Arabic music

Dystinct arrives at the capture site, enveloped in the soft glow of morning light. Sitting quietly and somewhat aloof, he waits patiently for the preparations to be completed. Trying to engage in light conversation to ease the anticipation, we found his answers abrupt and elusive, often deflecting questions by answering questions with more questions. It was as if his intrigue lay more in unraveling the stories of those around him than in revealing his own.

Transitioning seamlessly to our next location for the video interview, Distinct's demeanor changes as soon as the camera rolls, revealing layers of his persona we hadn't yet seen. Beneath his initial reticence lay a wealth of stories yearning to be shared. With each question, Dystinct confidently embarks on a narrative journey, tracing his roots, beginning with his upbringing in Belgium, where his parents immersed him in the rich tapestry of Arabic music. From the haunting melodies of Umm Kulthum to the sonorous voices of artists from Egypt and the Gulf, his childhood was a symphony of cultural immersion. He recounts his collaborations throughout his career, from music producers to fellow artists, with each collaboration shaping his artistic path.

However, it was his deep connection to his Moroccan heritage that underlined his musical ethos. As he delved into his vision for his art, Dystinct articulated a deep commitment to speak to the Arab audience. His knowledge of the intricacies of the local music industry, particularly the sophisticated landscape of North African artists, revealed a keen understanding of the diverse influences and audience dynamics spanning Morocco, Europe and the Arab world.

Dystinct has carved his name among North Africa's top Afropop artists in recent years, with a string of back-to-back hits and collaborations, each trending on social media and garnering tens of millions of streams. With the release of the Billboard Arabia charts, the depth of Distinct's influence on the North African music scene becomes even more evident. Over the course of consecutive weeks, more than five of Dystinct's hits, released at different times, have secured prominent spots on the Hot 100 chart. At the time of this writing, it ranked at No. 5, 7, and 10.

His song “La” (No) appears on his album Layali (Nights), regained the top spot following the release of its music video, making it one of the few songs to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100. Other releases from earlier periods continue to enjoy significant popularity, such as “Tek Tek” (Tik Tok) ft. MHD, “Y Dor” featuring Soolking, “Ghazali” (Gazelle) ft. Bryan Mg, whose spread is associated with a unique Event.

Dystinct was taken aback when he watched the match between his country's national team and Belgium at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the players played his song in the background to celebrate, helping it go viral and forever linking it to the unprecedented historical achievements of the Moroccan national team. team in the world's biggest tournament.

Dystinct acknowledges that a significant portion of his audience met him through “Ghazali,” but it was never his starting point. “A lot of young people who listen to my songs know me from the song 'Ghazali,'” says Dystinct. “But before that, I was doing Dutch music. In my mind, I always wanted to do Arabic music, but I was waiting for the right moment. I had a song called 'Ya La Laa' (Hey Ma'am) a long time ago, and it was a hit for me, but the thing is, the song was a hit, but no one realized it. So, I worked to improve myself. How do I introduce myself to the world? I want to show people who Distinct is. I told myself that I want the world to see my culture. Even if I make Arabic music, it's not exclusively for Moroccans or Arabic speakers.”

Born and raised in Belgium to Moroccan immigrant parents, Dystinct's connection to his Moroccan roots remains strong, with his identity as a Moroccan artist above all else. His mastery of Darija, the Arabic dialect spoken in Morocco, has allowed him to channel his heritage into his music, beginning with the release of “Ya La Laa” (Hey Ma'am) in 2019, marking the beginning of his artistic travel. . He has worked with proven producers who have wrapped his musical style with refined and consistent themes, such as Unleaded, YAM, Ryder and Seno, who Dystinct fondly refers to as his brothers. Maintaining a musical style focused primarily on Afropop, Dystinct has recently begun experimenting with dialect mixing, incorporating elements of Moroccan Darija with Egyptian or Gulf dialects.

“I think we are in a new era in the Arab world and Arab music will no longer be exclusively for Arabs. I have said it in another interview with him, that African music is very popular now, but it also has a stage of development. Now we see everyone listening to African music or everyone listening to Latin music, even if not everyone speaks Spanish or something like that. That's what I'm trying to do for Arabic music.”

Dystinct understands this fact with confidence, speaking from the experience he has gained through his personal journey. In his early days, as he tried to introduce his music to event organizers and platforms during his time in Europe, he met the same response: that Arabic music there was limited to Arab weddings and communities with no place in public events and among the western audience. . Today, after years of hard work, Dystinct stands with a major roster of hits and a sold-out music tour announced in America and Europe, confirming that the era of music being limited to a specific audience is over, and that in In today's era, Arabic music has emerged as a dominant force, playing a key role in captivating a global audience.