We told you, about this time, in 2010 that Moroccan R &B Singer Ahmed Soultan was one ‘Artist to Watch,’ especially in breaking through to the Western market. Two years later, Ahmed Soultan is proving us very right. He continues to push towards global domination and has just been voted as the top musician in the ‘Middle East-North Africa’ region for the upcoming MTV EMA awards.
Sultan now heads on to the next stage where he will square off against winners from Africa and India. If he wins, then he will face winners from North and South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The competition is particularly fierce as the winner from Africa is Nigeria’s D’Banj. The ultimate winner will receive the coveted award at the EMAs on November 11th, 2012 in Frankfurt Germany.
Below is the press release his team sent us soliciting your vote.
PRESS RELEASE
AHMED SOULTAN “BEST MOROCCAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2012 BY MTV”
Nominated for MTV EMA’s (European Music Awards) to be held in Frankfurt,
11 november 2012 for BEST MIDDLE EAST ACT category.
Casablanca, (October) 2012 – Voted as Best Moroccan Artist for year by MTV, Ahmed Soultan is nominated for Best Middle East Act, in which he will participate with his latest song « My Jailer », an important step leading towards the prestigious MTV Best Worldwide Act to be awarded in Frankfurt on 11 November for MTV EMA’s 2012. A good opportunity for this artist, bound to his roots, to represent his country and become its pride. As he says himself, : « This nomination is for all the Moroccan artists of the new generation, who have been fighting for years to get some recognition and in which the Moroccan youth can identify itself with”
Ahmed Soultan, leading figure of « Moroccan Urban Music », is a precursor of a new genre, which he calls Afrobian Soul (Afro-Arabian), often talked about as USO (Unidentified Sounding Object) His first album « Tolérance » received a warm welcome and wide media coverage, so much that Ahmed Soultan quickly became one of the leading figures of the Nayda, word used to describe the new Moroccan generation, as for the Movida in Spain..
After a second effort, « Code », in 2009, in which he further developed its blueprint, its popularity in North Africa, and on the international level, was confirmed. Singing in four languages (Amazigh, Arabic, English and French), he took part in many different international music events with great artists such as Tiken Jah Fakoly, Talib Kweli, Angélique Kidjo and Zap Mama.
So goes this atypical artist who takes the time to wander between London, Paris, Los Angeles, Osaka and Taroudant, his birthtown where he still lives. He participates actively in the development of the later, anxious to demonstrate a fair and tolerant image of Africa and the Arabic world.
Ahmed Soultan is calling for support and to vote for him from now on, until 9 November, to reach the upper category BEST AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST / INDIA on the official links http://me.mtvema.com/artsits/ahmed-soultan or www.ahmedsoultan.com
About ’Ahmed Soultan :
. Featuring on Ne-Yo’s latest album « Amazing You” – September 2010
. Participation in People Power project – February 2012
. Interview and live showcase on BBC World News and BBC Radio 1Xtra – April 2012
. Compilation Arabic Beats produced by Putumayo – July 2012
. Featuring on Gemelli Diversi’s latest album, number 1 in Italy – September 2012
. Currently working on a 3rd album, scheduled for Spring 2013.
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