Mdou Moctar, currently on tour promoting his latest album Funeral For Justice, recently delivered a powerful performance at an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. While most artists opt for an acoustic setup during these intimate sessions, Moctar’s performance was defiantly electric, staying true to his energetic style.
Moctar, the Tuareg guitarist known for his masterful playing, led the session with his signature American Professional Series left-handed white Stratocaster. His effortless charisma and skill were on full display as he played alongside his band, which featured Ahmoudou Madassane on rhythm guitar, Mikey Coltun on bass (also the album’s producer), and Souleymane Ibrahim, who played a unique combination of kick drum and djembe. Together, they delivered a captivating set, performing standout tracks like Imouhar, Funeral for Justice, and Takoba.
During Takoba, Moctar swapped his iconic Strat for a left-handed American Acoustasonic Telecaster, showcasing his versatility. Despite the change in instruments, the energy of the performance remained electric.
The session’s electric energy didn’t stop with the instruments. A fan encapsulated the vibe best with the comment, “They brought Orange stacks to a Tiny Desk, the absolute mad lads!” Moctar’s rig for the performance included an Orange Rockerverb 50 MKIII head, paired with a 2×12 Orange cabinet, making for a powerful and memorable performance.
In a recent interview, Moctar shared why the Stratocaster is his go-to guitar. “I still like the Stratocaster. First of all, I really like the sound it produces, and the dimensions fit perfectly with my body – and it doesn’t hurt me. So that’s what I’m looking for in a guitar.”
Despite his love for the Strat, Moctar emphasized that hard work is the key to a guitarist’s tone. “I think it helps a player progress if they like the sound they’re producing. But, to me, the most important thing is how hard you work. You have to keep practicing, over and over, and push past your limits to really produce good music, just like in other fields,” he explained.
He also stressed that owning the best instruments won’t automatically make a great musician. “You could be given the best instruments in the world, but if you don’t know how to play well, it’s not going to sound good. However, if you’ve worked hard and then start to get some good instruments, it’ll really be something. But it all comes down to work,” Moctar added.
Last month, Moctar and his band also released a live session filmed at the King’s Palace in Agadez, Niger. This performance featured traditional dancers, swordsmen, and even a herd of camels, adding another layer of cultural richness to his ever-evolving musical journey.
