The artist from Nazaire Dajla has put down her luggage in New-York. The opportunity for her to give a second boost to her career. Picture by Nicolas Santa/White Tiger Society
After two soulful albums released in France, the Nazairian artist Dajla crossed the Atlantic Ocean to give a new impetus to her career.
“I had reached my limit, I thought that traveling would help me go further in my artistic practice. Dajla met Gordon Williams, producer and engineer for Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill, who won several Grammy Awards. “I was looking for people to help me produce my new album. I turned over a Lauryn Hill CD cover that I love, and when I saw Gordon’s name, I wrote him a beautiful digital letter.” Their first meeting, in London, is significant. Dajla then flew to New York where she now lives. “Gordon embodies the American way of taking risks, he trusted me against all odds. The American Dream is not just a myth. When you have the skills, they give you a chance.
Music in all its forms
The album project took on an unexpected dimension. Dajla and Gordon Williams founded the White Tiger Society project. “It’s the continuation of what I started in Nantes and Saint-Nazaire. It’s a movement in which we have guests and many projects: live, studio, film and teaching. In addition to recording a seven-track mini album and writing film music, the singer places great importance on vocal coaching and musical training. “I would love to come back to Saint-Nazaire for writing workshops, especially in English. When I started singing in 2006, it was quite rare in France to do so in English. The expatriation allowed Dajla to become more professional in the music industry and “to learn to reinvent herself, to be flexible”. However, she remains very attached to her hometown where she trained in classical and jazz piano with the Conservatoire. “Saint-Nazaire is almost opposite New York. These are my roots. The distance and isolation are not always easy to live with. It reminds me of my father of Tunisian origin who also left his native land for Saint-Nazaire, where he met my mother and built his life. Without that I wouldn’t be here today. These feelings, as well as her new environment, are new subjects of inspiration for the singer.
