by Mike Lisching
Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Vieux Farka Touré is a globally acclaimed Malian guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for blending the rich traditions of West African desert blues with contemporary rock, funk, and global sounds. He’s been touring the US for the last month and will play shows on the East Coast and Europe before returning on May 10 to play the star-studded two-day Mill Valley Music Festival.
The son of legendary guitarist Ali Farka Touré, Vieux launched his solo career in 2007 with a debut album featuring collaborations with his father, recorded shortly before Ali’s passing.
He quickly established himself as a boundary-pushing artist through collaborations with Israeli pianist Idan Raichel (The Tel Aviv Session, The Paris Session), and most recently with indie psych-funk trio Khruangbin on the 2022 album Ali, a reimagining of his father’s iconic work.
In 2022, he created Les Racines, a powerful return to Vieux Farka Touré’s Songhai roots. It was recorded in Bamako using one of his late father’s guitars and is a deeply personal tribute to heritage and the legacy of desert blues.
On the road here in California, Static & Blur had the opportunity to speak with Vieux. I caught him at the end of lunch surrounded by a joyful group of tour mates and family. Today, they were lucky enough to have food brought from his sister.
This guitar is really a part of me. … this guitar and me are one person
Vieux is talking about his favorite guitar, a Godin given to him in 2006 that stays to tour with him only in the US. This guitar and the iconic custom guitar strap given to him by his manager may be the only things we can plan for when he takes the stage on May 10.
I love to leave the people to discover what they’re gonna hear.
He plans to take us on a journey that day. Set lists change night to night, he sings in many languages (Songhai, Bambara, French, and English), and creates music that plays with the balance of traditional and modern sounds.
While on tour, his band, manager, and crew function as a family similar to his family in Mali, doing everything together. It was a joy to experience that bond when chatting and laughing with them last week.
Having started his recording career in 2007, he enjoys the spontaneity of creation onstage and in the recording studio.
You know, when I’m doing the album. When I go to the studio, I never do rehearsal. I never ask for the people. Okay, this is what we’re gonna play. I never give anything. You just go to the studio. Sit down, play.
Songs aren’t written in advance – often pushing collaborators who have week-long recording schedules, suggesting they will be done in 2 days. Simply put, he says:
Put everyone in the room, and it comes through like water.
That mentality was exhibited on a chance day when Vieux and Idan Raichel both had concerts in Israel and shared a free day. After the concert, they looked for small studios or home studios, and the next day, in 3 hours, the album The Tel Aviv Sessions was recorded.
Committed to preserving the traditional instruments. He described concerns over hearing some people say, “No more traditional music”. But for Vieux, everything has come from those musical roots.
If you’re recording in my studio, you have to bring some traditional instruments to do any of your music.
He sees this as a way of safeguarding those instruments and traditions in a time when a person can easily record at home.
Language roots also play an important role in his song creation process. Vieux speaks Songhai, Bambara, French, and English. So when creating a new song, the music and melody come first, followed by the question of what language the lyrics should be performed in.
When not touring or recording, Vieux lives a completely different life at home in Bamako, Mali.
Life at home is steeped in culture. He doesn’t have a favorite San Francisco Taqueria, but when he returns home, the first meal he has to have is good lamb. He lit up, describing the process of making lamb soup.
You know, when I’m home, with all my friends, my brothers and sisters, and we are all in the same house, we eat together. We do everything together. It’s something very special.
Often being away for months at a time, he cherishes barbecues with friends, but also helps friends and the broader community by sitting with people. Taking the time to understand their problems, support creating solutions, and making them feel comfortable. Music is around and being played a few times a week, but when at home, he is focused on his social connections.
Vieux says his favorite guitar is part of him, as are his family, music, and traditions. To feel the music flow like water and get a sensory tour of Mali and the world. Head to the Mill Valley Music Festival on May 10. Get your tickets now!
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