Diaspora – Press release – Document
| Series name | Natacha Atlas |
| Description | This press release from Nation Records/QFM Publishing is for Natacha Atlas’ debut solo album, ‘Dispora’. It was released on Nation Records/Beggars Banquet/Mantra and includes Arabic, French, Hindi and Spanish lyrics. The album was creatively supported by Transglobal Underground, another Nation Records band, and contains contributions from Indian, Egyptian and western musicians. |
| Date of Creation / Publication | 1995 |
| Creator | Nation Records |
| Associated Person/ Organisation | QFM Publishing |
| Location | London |
| Collection and Reference Number | Nation Records Collection (GB 2661 NR) |
| Catalogue Number | NR/OB/NA/1 |
| Copyright | The Creator and/ or associated person or organisation where applicable |
| Access to originals | The originals are located at Nation Records Limited |
| Series notes | Natacha Atlas was born in the Moroccan district of Bruxelles and moved to Northampton,England, as a teenager. Of Palestinian/ Egyptian background,she spent time singing and performing raqs sharqi in Arab and Turkish nightclubs and fronting a Belgian Salsa band. Her talent caught the eye of Jah Wobble and Baleric beat group !Loca! In 1991, 'Timbal' by !Loca! appeared on Nation Records' 'Fuse Two' compilation and became a huge club hit. The success of 'Timbal' sealed Natacha's relationship with Nation Records who introduced her to Transglobal Underground. As chief collaborator, belly dancer and lead singer with Transglobal and in her own right, Natacha Atlas has performed all over the world, playing at music festivals such as Reading, Phoenix and WOMAD. She has also worked with Peter Gabriel and Apache Indian and contributed to film soundtracks. Her July 1995 release on Nation Records was an album entitled 'Diaspora'. This combined the beats of Transglobal Underground with more traditional Arab musicians like Tunisia' s singer-songwriter Walid Roussi and Egypt's Oud master, Essam Rashad (Atlas' uncle). Natacha Atlas is currently signed to the Beggars Banquet record label in the USA. |
| Collection notes | The material from the Nation Records collection consists of various CD covers, press releases, promotional photography, lyrics and flyers from twelve of the bands signed to the record label since 1989. |
