Country : Niger / Québec Canada Label : Nuits d'Afrique Genres and styles : afro-rock / Saharan Blues Year : 2025

Boubé – Voyager

· by Frédéric Cardin

The Tuareg/desert blues scene has a new name: Boubé. The young musician from Niger, based in Montreal, is releasing Voyager, his first EP. The man who won the Silver Syli award from Productions Nuits d’Afrique in 2024 has surrounded himself with a solid trio from the Montreal scene: Vincent Duhaime Perreault, Carlo Birri and Sylvain Plante. Essentially, guitars, bass and percussion propel catchy, generous melodies and the engaging voice of the young musician, who talks about subjects rooted in the nomadic nature of the Tuareg people: travel, contact with others on the various paths of life, ‘not forced’ exile, because it’s in the DNA of this people to always be on the move. Boubé takes this notion a step further by moving to Montreal a few years ago. It’s a calculated choice to take advantage of the excellence of the Montreal scene, as well as benefiting from the support of Productions Nuits d’Afrique for this well-crafted release. 

If you recognise some of the impulses of Bombino, an elder and star of desert blues, you’re not wrong, because Boubé was his protégé for a time. More generally, Boubé’s electric, sun-drenched music makes its way through the grooves cut into the sandy granularity of the immense panoramas of Saharan Africa. Tinariwen, Etran Finawatra (of course) and especially Mdou Moctar, a much more recent arrival and another of the young Montrealer’s declared affiliations, have all left their stylistic mark on this album. 

There’s a lot of power in the sonic surges emanating from Boubé’s quartet, but also a gentleness of intention and purpose. We sense the beauty of an open and curious mind, respectful of others and eager to reach out to them. Like a sirocco that hits hard but soothes the soul. An unforgettable effect, a touching contradiction.

THE ALBUM WIL BE LAUNCHED MARCH 29 AT BALATTOU

The title track, Voyager, has all the makings of a viral summer hit. The other five tracks on the EP are perhaps a little too similar, harmonically and melodically speaking, to this one, but we’ll give him time to polish up the rest of his repertoire for an eventual full-length album. It’s true that when you have such an effective earworm on hand, it’s hard to forget it and move on to something else.

Voyager (the album) transports the mind and warms the heart. 

Latest 360 Content

Meggie Lennon – My Best Self

Meggie Lennon – My Best Self

Critique Love… Critical Minerals in Montreal’s Underground

Critique Love… Critical Minerals in Montreal’s Underground

The Mars Volta – Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio

The Mars Volta – Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio

Laurence Hélie – Tendresse et bienveillance

Laurence Hélie – Tendresse et bienveillance

From Zigaz to Charlie Juste

From Zigaz to Charlie Juste

FACS, WORKS, and DahL at Quai Des Brumes

FACS, WORKS, and DahL at Quai Des Brumes

Before Sitting Down Alone at The Piano, Ingrid St-Pierre Responds

Before Sitting Down Alone at The Piano, Ingrid St-Pierre Responds

Virginia MacDonald, clarinet rising soloist with ONJM

Virginia MacDonald, clarinet rising soloist with ONJM

Lionel Belmondo , Yannick Rieu and l’OSL: Symphonic Jazz Around Brahms, Ravel and Boulanger

Lionel Belmondo , Yannick Rieu and l’OSL: Symphonic Jazz Around Brahms, Ravel and Boulanger

Djo – The Crux

Djo – The Crux

Université de Montréal: Stars shine on music’s next gen

Université de Montréal: Stars shine on music’s next gen

Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE

Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE

Magnificent Heiresses

Magnificent Heiresses

Stéphanie Boulay: Healing Album, Reconstruction Album

Stéphanie Boulay: Healing Album, Reconstruction Album

Joni Void wants you to ‘watch experimental films in the club’ or at La Lumière

Joni Void wants you to ‘watch experimental films in the club’ or at La Lumière

Marcus Printup at U de M: Wisdom, Generosity, Musicianship

Marcus Printup at U de M: Wisdom, Generosity, Musicianship

Pascale Picard Dives Back Into Creation

Pascale Picard Dives Back Into Creation

Dean Wareham – That’s The Price of Loving Me

Dean Wareham – That’s The Price of Loving Me

Pro Musica | Lucas Debargue, Pianistic Free Thinker

Pro Musica | Lucas Debargue, Pianistic Free Thinker

Éléonore Lagacé – Brûlez-moi vive

Éléonore Lagacé – Brûlez-moi vive

Laurence Hélie Has Found Her Name

Laurence Hélie Has Found Her Name

Quatuor Molinari and Berio, in the words of Olga Ranzenhofer

Quatuor Molinari and Berio, in the words of Olga Ranzenhofer

Tunisian Goddess Emel Presents MRA

Tunisian Goddess Emel Presents MRA

Shreez – ON FRAP II

Shreez – ON FRAP II

Subscribe to our newsletter