​
Ghalia is an emerging Blues, R&R singer/songwriter from the city of Brussels, BE. For the last six years, she's been working as a solo artist as well as bandleader of two home-made acts: "Ghalia & The Naphtalines", a high energy boogie, rhythm’n’blues band and her (all-original) project "Voodoo Casino", with whom she recorded her first album in 2016.
From 2013, she began busking her way from the intimate streets of Brussels to the big music cities of the USA where she's had the privelege and oppurtunity to meet a host of very talented and inspiring musicians.
Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, all the way to the backroads of Mississippi and the Bayous of Louisiana, Ghalia's passion for the international stage has elevated her craft to the precocious level that it stands today.
To wit, she's become a well respected artist in the music scene of Clarksdale, MS, the town aptly dubbed "ground zero" of the Blues world. There, Ghalia participated (three years running!) in the renowned Sunflower, Deep Blues and Juke Joint Festivals.
In the city of St. Louis, Ghalia has enjoyed collaborations with time-honored members of the St. Louis Blues Society. Most notable was Renee Smith ("the local Tina Turner") who grew fond of Ghalia's particular composition "Let the Demons Out" and personally recorded it for the St. Louis Blues Compilation of 2015. Most flattering!
Spring 2016: In the musical Mecca of New Orleans, Ghalia impressed and befriended internationally established, harmonica-act "Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys". The band's muscular sound went on to serve as the backdrop for a studio collaboration with Ghalia in St. Armant, LA. The tracks quickly caught the attention of Ruf Records with a recording contract eagerly offered to Ghalia under the band name "Ghalia & Mama's Boys."
Tracks for this new project were just recorded at Music Shed Studio - New Orleans. The record was mixed and mastered by engineering legend David Farrell. The album will be released internationally on Ruf Records in Fall of 2017.
As the band's lil' Blues sister, Ghalia's has been handed the lead mic during many a Mama's Boys' show both in Europe and on the band's local stomping ground--the thriving live music strip of Frenchmen St., New Orleans.
Her band's bragging rights:
Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys
• Recent record "Never Trust The Living" hit #1 in Louisiana (four weeks straight!) and #7 Nationally on the Roots Music Charts
• 10 Critically acclaimed records
• 4000+ shows
• 100+ Festival appearances
• 30+ European tours
• Three national radio recordings (BBC in London, Classic 21 in Belgium, German National Radio in Bremen).
Ghalia & Mama’s Boys create an innovative fusion that strikes a balance between traditional and progressive Blues’ music. They’re excited to deliver this new sound to audiences worldwide.
Have a listen !