ZOOM IN WITH RITA KAMALE
An Artist Blending Global Sounds Into Immersive Worlds
For Rita Kamale, music is a space of exploration. The Moroccan artist, based in London, moves between vocals, rap, production, and DJing, creating a sound that draws from multiple cultures, genres, and experiences. Her work blends global influences into immersive sonic worlds, balancing introspection with imagination and experimentation.
An Immersive Sound Universe
Rita Kamale describes her music as an exploration of global sounds, ranging from Dub and Alternative R&B to Alternative Hip Hop. While difficult to place within a single category, her work is united by a desire to create immersive experiences for listeners.
Rather than focusing on genre boundaries, she approaches music as a space where different influences can coexist, resulting in a sound she describes as immersive, with a touch of fantasy.
From Musician to Producer and DJ
Music has always been central to Kamale's life. She played piano for fifteen years before teaching herself guitar, singing, and electronic production.
Her introduction to DJing came later, through Morocco's underground electronic music scene. After meeting her husband, who had founded an underground electronic music collective in Morocco, she became increasingly interested in the world of electronic music. He introduced her to DJing and helped her explore the genre more deeply.
While growing up in the UK exposed her to Drum & Bass, Garage, and Jungle music, Morocco introduced her to House, Minimal House, Techno, and Intelligent Dance Music (IDM). She became particularly drawn to IDM, Micro House, and Techno, especially their ambient and "liquid" qualities. Those atmospheric elements would later become an important part of her own production style and the sonic identity of her debut album.
Identity Through Blending
Growing up in London allowed Kamale to absorb a wide range of cultural influences from an early age. Surrounded by communities from the Caribbean, West and East Africa, India, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Morocco, she developed a natural curiosity toward different cultures and forms of expression.
Her interest extends beyond music into folklore, religious stories, art, and cultural traditions. Over time, these influences became part of her subconscious and began to appear naturally in her work through sound, fashion, and visual expression.
For Kamale, identity is not fixed. While certain aspects of identity are rooted in where someone is born or raised, she believes values, perspectives, and personality continuously evolve throughout life. She views identity as something that can take multiple forms over time, shaped by experiences, relationships, challenges, and growth. In this sense, experimentation is not something that threatens identity but rather something that helps reveal it.
Between London and Morocco
The relationship between London and Morocco remains central to Kamale's artistic perspective.
She often describes London as a place where "iron sharpens iron." The city's high creative standards, diversity, and competitiveness constantly challenge artists to evolve and refine their craft. Simply being immersed in such an environment encourages the development of a distinct taste and artistic voice.
At the same time, Morocco remains one of her deepest sources of inspiration. She credits the country with giving her a profound understanding of colours, textures, and atmosphere, both visually and sonically. For Kamale, Morocco continues to be an essential reference point and her favourite place in the world.
The World of DRAGONFRUIT
Released as her debut record, DRAGONFRUIT represents a deeply personal chapter in Kamale's journey.
The songs are rooted in real-life experiences, touching on themes such as deception, fear, loneliness, anger, gratitude, confidence, and self-discovery. Through the process of creating the album, she gained a clearer understanding of herself and her place in the world.
At the same time, she wanted the project to move beyond autobiography. Rather than simply recounting events, she sought to transform those experiences into something imaginative and whimsical. For Kamale, DRAGONFRUIT is ultimately about overcoming life's challenges with style, creativity, and imagination.
The title itself carries multiple meanings. It represents the fruit of her labour, the culmination of years of personal work, reflection, and growth. The album was released during the Year of the Dragon and was also inspired by the Devil Fruits in the anime and manga series One Piece, which grant supernatural abilities to those who consume them.
Much like those fictional objects, Kamale wanted the album to feel transformative, giving listeners something magical, empowering, and slightly otherworldly.
Experimentation as a Necessity
For Kamale, experimentation is not simply part of the creative process, it is essential to it.
As her musical knowledge has expanded over the years, she has found that it takes more to surprise or impress her. Experimentation has therefore become a way to continually challenge herself and avoid creative stagnation.
She believes some of the most exciting moments in music emerge from mistakes, accidents, and unexpected discoveries. Rather than approaching creation with strict expectations, she prefers to leave room for intuition, imagination, and spontaneity. Ideas are allowed to emerge freely before being refined later.
This openness to surprise is also how she recognizes when something is working. For Kamale, the right sound often triggers a physical reaction, an immediate feeling of excitement that cannot be explained rationally.
Entering Rita Kamale's World
For first-time listeners, where to begin depends entirely on mood.
Those looking for something energetic can start with MOVE. Those seeking something more relaxed can turn to BADDIES. For listeners drawn to more emotional territory, FEAR LESS offers another entry point into her world.
Each track reveals a different facet of her artistic universe, reflecting the diversity of sounds, emotions, and influences that continue to shape her work.
Rather than defining herself through a single genre or identity, Rita Kamale embraces movement, transformation, and discovery. Through music, she continues to build immersive worlds where experimentation, imagination, and self-exploration remain at the centre of the experience.
Photos @ritakamale