Meryem Aboulouafa

Meryem Aboulouafa (Arabic: مريم أبو الوفاء) is a singer, songwriter and narrator from Casablanca.^[1][2] Her first solo album Meryem (2020), was released by Animal 63 and has received positive reviews throughout the music industry. Her singles Breath of Roma and Ya Qalbi were used for radio, television and film scores.

Meryem Aboulouafa مريم أبو الوفاء
Aboulouafa performing in Saint-Eustache, Paris / 2022
Background information
Born	1988 (age 36–37)
Origin	Casablanca, Morocco
Years active	2017–present
Labels	Zerhoun Records

Early life

Meryem Aboulouafa, born on December 3, 1988, in Casablanca, Morocco, is a versatile artist known for her deep connection with music and fine arts. Her musical journey began with early exposure to the traditional Moroccan melodies and the sounds of the iconic divas of the Arab world. In addition, influenced by her father's musical taste, she was introduced to the world of rock classics, including the Neil Young, Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd, as well as prominent figures in French music such as Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Georges Brassens.^[3] Embarking on her formal exploration of music theory and violin at the Music Conservatory, Meryem refined her expertise at the Conservatoire of Casablanca.^[4][5]

In 2016, Meryem Aboulouafa graced the stage of a TEDx conference, introducing herself as an artist, proud Moroccan. Fondly reminiscing her roots in Casablanca, she humorously shared childhood beliefs that have since transformed. Within the intimate confines of her Casablanca bedroom, armed only with a guitar, Meryem gave life into her initial compositions by crafting poetry in English, French and Arabic.^[6][7]

After completing her high school education, Meryem enrolled into fine arts at the Ecole Supérieur des Beaux-Arts of Casablanca, ultimately earning her diploma as an interior designer. Subsequently, she took on the role of teaching interior design at the Academy of Traditional Arts in Casablanca and Euro-Mediterranean University of Morocco. Meryem envisions crafting "musical objects" and exploring the possibility of designing innovative instruments “objets musicaux”, thereby exemplifying her interdisciplinary approach to the arts.^[8]

Career

Meryem is starting to make a name for herself in the world of music in 2017 as she took the stage at MadJazz festival in Marrakech and Jazzablanca festival in Casablanca and made one of her first collaborations with Moulay Driss Alaoui Mdaghri, a great fan of Arabic and Andalusian poetry, who opened her the door to Italy, and subsequently to Francesco Santalucia. Together they produced a cover of the Algerian traditional song "Ya Qalbi" which later will become one of her most known songs. The artist moves on to have a musical tour in Indonesia and Italy.^[9]

Her musical journey took an unexpected turn when "Ya Qalbi" came to the attention of Emmanuel Barron, the head of the French label Animal63 (recognized for artists like The Blaze and Myth Sizer). This encounter marked the start of a new chapter in Meryem's musical career, affirming her position in the global music scene. As he notably wrote " … I came back to Paris two days later after meeting a mind-blowing artist, a rare woman, an artist living in a country where being an artist is not a simple choice. But above all I met a «voice,» but not only in the vocal, technical sense of the word. The voice of a modern Moroccan woman, a musician, believer and poet ... ".^[10]

The fruit of this encounter was “Meryem”, the first album by Meryem Aboulouafa. It was released at the end of May in Europe and Morocco by the French label Animal 63, and was launched with the dreamlike music video “Deeply”. The 11 songs of the album, composed in both English and Arabic. Before her album release, Emmanuel Barron suggested that he re-record certain titles with new collaborators. Two names are working on the construction or reconstruction of her tracks: Jean-Baptiste de Laubier alias Para One, known for his energetic techno and for his more contemplative soundtracks, inseparable from the cinema of Céline Sciamma. And Maxime Daoud, musician, arranger and producer of music with gentle melancholy under the name Ojard. Following the release of her album, Meryem embarked on a tour featuring live concerts and made appearances on television and radio. Her debut album received a warm welcome from the music world and resonated well with music enthusiasts.^[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Released	Label	Formats	No.	Tracklist	Duration
Meryem	29 May 2020	Animal 63	LP, CD, digital download	1	The friend	03:03	38:17
				2	Breath of Roma	03:25
				3	Deeply	03:21
				4	Say the truth and run	03:57
				5	Je me promets	04:30
				6	Fighting	03:31
				7	Évanouie	03:33
				8	The Accident	03:40
				9	Ya Qalbi	03:06
				10	Welcome Back to Me	02:47
				11	We'll get by	03:19

Singles & EP

Title	Released	Label
Breath of Roma	2 December 2019	Animal 63
Ya Qalbi	12 February 2020	Animal 63
Évanouie	29 April 2020	Animal 63

Other Collaborations & Remixes

Title	Artist	Released	Album	Label
13.10	Francesco Santalucia	2017	Memoria	La grande onda
Breath of Roma (Remix)	Alper Gursoy	29 November 2021		PalmTherapy Sounds
Oasi	Elasi	29 July 2022	Oasi Elasi	Capitol Records/Universal Music Italia
Le paradis	Bachar Mar-Khalifé	13 May 2023	The End - Music for Films, Vol.1	Balcoon
D'âme à âme	Anna Chedid	20 October 2023	Peau neueve	Anna Chedid Publishing
J'irai partout	Dominique Dalcan	27 September 2023	Last Night a Woman Saved My Life	Ostinato Records

Usage in media

2025 - Bref2 - Closing title of Bref season 2
2023 - Le Paradis / Lost Boys (Film)
2023 - Ya Qalbi - Holy Family (aka Sagrada familia) S1 | E2 | Netflix
2022 - Deeply - Skam France S7 | E7 | France TV
2021 - Je me promets  AlRawabi School for Girls  S1 | E4 | Netflix
2021 - Mawadda - (Film by Hicham Lasri)

Voice Overs

2014 - Watchtower of Turkey by Leonardo D.
2015 - AMF2015 | Official Trailer (Amsterdam Music Festival)
2022 - Waking dreams  by Mayan Warrior Burning Man
2023 - Do you remember? - Burning Man by Sodalime Burning Man
2023 - Fez, di Meryem Aboulouafa - RSI La 1 
2023 - Forever Marrakech - L’Office National Marocain du Tourisme