Fatoumata Diawara

What music are you currently grooving to?

A lot of traditional music, music from my roots, music from my region of Wassoulou. I’m also listening to lots of old songs from Mali. I love listening to the old grooves and the old voices. They really inspire me. Especially the voices of Malian women.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? Nina Simone’s The Very Best Of…

I always get inspiration from her. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? In Mali I couldn’t buy a record because of my background, so the first record I bought was Nina Simone’s best-of when I came to Paris. When I got my freedom, leaving my family to run away and come to Europe, she was the first voice that I heard. She supported me mentally and her music encouraged me to keep my own voice as it is, because when I started to sing I was trying to sing like European people. I’ve been listening to her ever since.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be?

It would be Ali Farka Touré. I’d want to keep Ali Farka Touré’s style, but not be an exact copy, be myself too. What do you sing in the shower?

I love singing songs in the shower, but I also like to write songs in the shower. The sound of the water is very inspiring for writing melodies. What is your favourite Saturday night record?

Women singing jazz and blues –

Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday,

Nina Simone.

And your Sunday morning record? Could be jazz, classical… and I love the songs of my ancestors. You have to dig deep to find recordings, but I love listening to these old songs.

Fatoumata’s new LP Maliba is available digitally now.