Amazigh band Meteor Airlines releases a new single with an AI-synthesized video
As the world becomes more interconnected with AI, we are seeing a blending of AI in all aspects of life. One area where this blending is particularly exciting is in the world of media, especially video and music. To keep up with the latest trends, the Moroccan band Meteor Airlines has just released a new single. The single is accompanied by a captivating video made with AI technology. The new single, “Iblis”, is available on Spotify and Youtube.
AI Video
The video is AI-synthesized and incorporates rich cultural illustrations. This is possibly a first for a Moroccan song, if not African, to be accompanied with AI generated visuals. Adnane, the bass band member, conceived the idea. Adnane is also pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and has a background in text and image synthesis.
The illustrations show stunning cultural and natural images. The band emphasized in a communication with Maghreb Magazine that it is their intent “to show our culture, history, wardrobe, architectures” and using a “modern advanced tool to represent something ancient such as our civilization”.
We wanted to show our culture, history, wardrobe, and architectures using a modern advanced tool to represent something ancient such as our civilization.
Meteor Airlines
Lyrics
The new single is titled “Iblis”, which translates to a “devil” in English. It is performed in Tamazight, the four members’s mother tongue.
The band explained the choice saying “we are Amazigh born and Tamazight is our mother tongue. Tamazight is a rich and powerful language, where all its dialects gather to draw a beautiful and major portrait of Moroccan identity. Not only is it a gorgeously constructed language, but a full cultural heritage, a set of values, a way of life.”
The lyrics of Iblis are written by Mohammed Bouazza ben Youssef, a well-known poet from the Saghro region.
The poet, himself, is an inspiration to the band. “His poetry is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the region, and we felt that his words were a perfect fit for the themes and ideas that we wanted to explore in our music” says the band.
Amazigh Rock and Ahidous
The band infuses rock music with various Moroccan styles. This fusion of genres has created a unique sound that is captivating audiences.
The band is drawn to rock music for its “high energy and rebellious spirit” expressed the band to Maghreb Magazine. The band added that “rock music provides us with the perfect platform to express ourselves and connect with our audience in a meaningful way, especially in Tamazight. We like to call it Amazigh Rock”.
“Iblis” has a distinctly Ahidous-inspired style. The band confirmed that it was not by accident, stating “we drew inspiration from Ahidous or Izli, a traditional dance and music form that is popular in the Southeast of Morocco. The rhythms and melodies of Ahidous are intricate and complex, and we wanted to incorporate some of those elements into our songwriting.”
Rock music provides us with the perfect platform to express ourselves and connect with our audience in a meaningful way, especially in Tamazight. We like to call it Amazigh Rock.
Meteor Airlines
Growing popularity
The band’s popularity is growing and gaining a following on social media (Facebook, and Instagram). The fans are particularly captivated by their innovative sound. And also the meaningful lyrics and incorporation of the native Amazigh culture into their songs.
Meteor Airlines are performing the opening act for the next Rock/Metal “Tricinty” event in Rabat on the 29th of April at CinemaRenaissance.
