AMI TAF RA RELEASES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “THE PROPHET”

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AMI TAF RA RELEASES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “THE PROPHET”

DEBUT ALBUM THE PROPHET AND THE MADMAN OUT AUGUST 22 VIA BRAINFEEDER

NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF IN SEPTEMBER

Photo by Audrey Wilkins

Today, North African, LA-based singer-songwriter Ami Taf Ra releases her new single and video, “The Prophet.” The ethereal, jazz-infused opus marks the fourth release from her forthcoming debut album, The Prophet and the Madman, out August 22 via Brainfeeder. With lyrics inspired by Lebanese-American writer Kahlil Gibran’s seminal poetry collection of the same name, “The Prophet” is a theatrical, eight-minute composition that showcases Ami Taf Ra’s powerful, operatic vocals over glittering production and bright, dynamic drums. The track radiates with shifts in sound, tempo, and emotional intensity, as she sings with ever-changing expressiveness. Despite its luminous sonic palette, the lyrics explore themes of separation, loss, and longing. The perspective flows between an omniscient narrator, a chorus of voices, and the Prophet himself as he prepares to leave a city and people he has come to love. Throughout the song, Ami Taf Ra wields her vibrant voice as a powerful instrument, guiding the listener through a rich emotional landscape before the song gently descends into a shimmering close. “The Prophet” is accompanied by an intimate visual directed by frequent collaborator Cleon Arrey. Filmed in black and white at Los Angeles’ Lula Washington Dance Theatre, the video features expressive, interpretive choreography by Tamica Washington, capturing dancers (Ongelle Olivia and Kaitwan Jackson) in raw, emotional motion. Listen to “The Prophet” HERE and watch the video HERE.

The Prophet and the Madman was produced by legendary saxophonist, composer, and Ami Taf Ra’s frequent collaborator Kamasi Washington. “The Prophet” follows Ami Taf Ra’s recent collaboration with renowned jazz trombonist Ryan Porter on “Love”. A transcendent, sonic palate cleanser that draws from Moroccan gnawa, gospel, and spiritual jazz, Ami Taf Ra’s debut album is a personal and poetic meditation on duality, healing, and ancestral memory. In June, Ami Taf Ra shared the single and video “How I Became A Madman” featuring Kamasi Washington — a soaring and entrancing track capturing the tension between inner chaos and clarity—a central theme of the forthcoming album. Set across Los Angeles’s Leimert Park and against the striking forms of Thomas Houseago’s sculpture garden, the song’s music video, directed by Cleon Arrey (co-owner of Neighbors Skate Shop), blends a lyrical mix of slow motion and quick cuts, the visuals mirroring the song’s frenetic pulse. In May, Ami Taf Ra announced her signing to Brainfeeder with the release of “Speak To Us (Outro)”, praised for its emotional depth and the accompanying video’s striking visual storytelling.

Over the course of her career, Ami Taf Ra has graced stages worldwide, captivating audiences in Denmark, Turkey, Morocco, Belgium, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan. She has performed at esteemed festivals like the South East Jazz Festival and the Haarlem Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, as well as with the Dutch Royal Metropole Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall (Concertgebouw) and the Dutch Blazers Ensemble. Ami has toured extensively with Kamasi Washington, performing together at notable venues and festivals across the United States including City Winery in Boston, the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, and the Just Jazz Concert Series at Mr Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles. She has also performed with a diverse array of musicians, including trombonist Ryan Porter, saxophonist Rickey Washington, percussionist Kahlil Cummings, bassist Ben Williams, drummer Jonathan Pinson, and pianist Jamael Dean. This fall, Ami Taf Ra will embark on a North American headline tour kicking off September 22 at the renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. For more information and tickets, visit https://amitafra.com/#tour.

Ami Taf Ra’s deep commitment to music as a tool for connection and healing has taken her beyond the stage and into communities impacted by displacement and conflict. In conjunction with a group of Dutch musicians, she led creative workshops for children, using music and painting to spark expression. The experience culminated in a collaborative performance that brought together the children, the musicians, and Ami Taf Ra as the opening act of the Amman Jazz Festival in 2014.

Today, Ami Taf Ra continues to explore the fusion of cultures through music, crafting a sound that honors her heritage while embracing new influences through different languages and nationalities. With every performance, she strives to connect people, stories, and traditions across borders. Ami Taf Ra's work stands as a testament to the power of cultural fusion in music, connecting people across borders through stories and traditions.