Mariama

In the artist's words:

Mariama defies any category and does so with full awareness. As a singer, songwriter and producer, she creates soundscapes that weave soul, folk, pop and West African music into something completely unique. Her identity is her compass: having grown up between different cultures and continents, she has learned that borders - both musical and geographical - are one thing above all: Invitations to cross them.

Mariama: A journey that began at the age of one

Born in Sierra Leone in 1986, Mariama Jalloh landed in Bergisch Gladbach as a small child - and grew up in a musical world that ranged from Miriam Makeba to Jacques Brel and Cat Stevens. An unusual mix that taught her early on: music has no origin, it only has an effect. At sixteen, she picks up the guitar for the first time and writes her own songs, and two years later she is already on the musical stage.

She took her first big steps in the Cologne music scene, where she made a name for herself in projects around Ade Bantu and collaborated with greats such as rapper Curse and Max Herre. Her first solo EP was released in 2009 and Mariama made it unmistakably clear that she wanted the stage all to herself.

From the Rhine to the Seine and back

Cologne becomes too small for her, Paris calls. Her first real album is born there, recorded in London with a production team that has also worked with reggae legend Ziggy Marley. "The Easy Way Out" (2012) is the result: an album full of lightness and substance at the same time, which blends soul, reggae and chanson so naturally, as if these genres had just been waiting to finally come together. Mariama lived and worked in Paris for six years before finding her way back to Cologne.

Her second album "Love, Sweat & Tears" (2018) shows an artist who has grown - familiar warmth in her voice, but darker, more electronic colors in her sound. Music that no longer needs to explain itself, but simply happens.

SPRPWR - Mariama's strongest statement to date

With the mini-album "a Woman alone" (2021) and the subsequent album SPRPWR, Mariama delivers her boldest work to date. No compromise, no pigeonholing - instead a sound that is as free as the woman behind it. Features with Chinese Man, Broken Back and Kondi Band show how sought-after she is as a collaborative partner. Tours through over ten countries, from Germany and Brazil to Guinea and the Cape Verde Islands, prove that her music is well received worldwide. Because she feels universally what she experiences personally.

What makes Mariama's music special

Mariama sounds like no one but herself. Her voice carries warmth and determination in equal measure, sometimes tender and intimate, sometimes with a power that fills the whole room. Those who attend her concerts do not experience an ordinary show: it is more like a conversation between stage and audience, where you have the feeling that you are witnessing something very real. It is this immediacy that makes her fan base continue to grow - from Cologne to Cape Verde.

Mariama live - you shouldn't miss it

When Mariama plays live, she brings the whole spectrum of her world to the stage. No two sets are the same, no moment seems staged. Anyone who has ever been there knows: these concerts stay with you. So, block the date in your diary, secure your ticket and experience for yourself what happens when someone who really has something to say is on stage.

Frequently asked questions about Mariama

1. what are Mariama's best-known releases?

In addition to her albums "The Easy Way Out" (2012) and "Love, Sweat & Tears" (2018), the album SPRPWR is her most acclaimed work to date. The mini-album "a Woman alone" (2021) has also established her with critics and fans alike.

2. what style does Mariama make?

Her sound moves between soul, folk, pop, reggae and West African influences, always infused with personal lyrics and a voice that you won't soon forget.

3. when did Mariama's career begin?

After her first projects in the Cologne music scene from 2008, her debut EP "Listen To Mariama" was released in 2009 - the starting signal for a solo career that has grown steadily ever since.

4. where can I get tickets for Mariama concerts?

You can find all current dates and ticket information right here and maybe even a place on the guest list is waiting for you. It pays to be quick!