Souad Massi - Zagate *Pre-Order

Release Date Friday 6th March 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.

Sitting somewhere between folk, rock and poetry, Zagate is the dazzling new
album from French Algerian artist Souad Massi
The emotional force and lyrical clarity present throughout this eleven- track album
makes it the most liberated and outspoken work in her career so far. Zagate will be
released on 6 March and Souad Massi will perform live at the Barbican, London on 9
May.
Predominantly recorded in the UK, Zagate explores a range of intense emotions: pain,
anger and revolt, but also hope and courage. At the helm once again (he produced her
previous album, Sequana) is guitarist and producer Justin Adams. Congolese rapper
Youssoupha and Rwandan French rapper Gael Faye make guest appearances
alongside a stellar band, which includes John Baggott on keyboard (Massive Attack,
Robert Plant), and Billy Fuller (Robert Plant) on bass.
From the electric rock of Ana Inssan to the bewitching Afrobeat of Samt, or from the
Saharan folk of D'ici, De la-bas to the Parisian blues of Chibani, each track on Zagate
reveals new vocal nuances. Long associated with gentleness and melancholy, Massi
delves into her own diverse history to produce one of her most authentic albums to
date, the softness of her vocals standing in stark contrast to the weight of today's
world. Although reluctant to describe herself as politically active - "I prefer to keep that
word for those who are out in the field" - the album offers an unflinching, frank
reflection on the troubled aspects of our world: war, violence, racism and the
tragedies which flood our screens and weigh on our consciences. "I find it difficult not
to be affected by all the information we are constantly being bombarded with," Massi
confides. "In this album, I wanted to share my own vision of the world".
The word Zagate is derived from the French expression "ca se gate", which is used in
Algeria to signify that "things are getting worse". More than a linguistic reference, the
title affirms Massi's dual heritage between Algeria, where she was born, and France,
where she has been living and creating music for the past twenty- six years. This
paves the way for an intense album without betraying the fragility she has become
known for. Inspired by Led Zeppelin's Kashmir, the title track blends the tension of rock
with Maghreb lyricism as Massi sings of war and devastation from the point of view
of a powerless civilian. On Congo Connection, featuring Youssoupha, Souad speaks
out against the injustice of a battered and pillaged country scarred by child
exploitation. L'Equation sets to music the beliefs of philosopher Averroes: ignorance is
what breeds fear, hatred and ultimately violence. Inspired by the Sufi tradition, Massi
comes back to the recited poetry of her early years, celebrating reason as a bulwark
against madness. Tiri , a melancholic acoustic ballad, is a song of hope and
selflessness, while 6 Heures du Matin provides a vibrant end to the album, a frank yet
tender observation of women who are constantly on the go.
With energised lyrics that lay bare Massi's anger and hopes, Zagate is an album that is
both intimate and political, in which her poetry becomes an act of resistance in itself.
"The gravity of our time pushed me to step out of the gentler, more melancholic
musical forms I became known for," says Massi. As a result, we see an artist more
liberated in her expression and more in touch with the world than ever. 

Tracks: Samt / D'ici, De la-bas / Zagate / L'equation #1 / L'equation
#2 / Tiri / Congo Connection / Ana Inssan / Sawt / Chibani / 6 heures du matin

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for looking at our listing, below are a few points to consider before making a purchase:

- All records we sell are Brand New - pre-orders will normally come sealed but if you are purchasing in stock items, please note the copy may have been unsealed for display in the shop. Please email straight after purchase to enquire if this is of importance to you.

- Orders won't ship until all items are released, so keep this in mind when purchasing multiple pre-orders or a mix of in stock and pre-order items.

- The 'Product' page will show the most up to date info we have with regards to the item and its release date, but this information is subject to change so check in with us if you have any questions.

- We unfortunately don't offer tax/vat outside of the UK via the website so please keep in mind that when the items arrives in your country you may be liable to pay a further charge before delivery. (all UK orders the price you see is the price you will pay). Please also note that we are unable to adjust the declared value on items sold internationally.