Watcha Clan: Singing outside the box

The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts made a French connection last week when members of a Marseille, France-based band Watcha Clan visited classrooms and gave a concert on campus.

The music group was part of the MCLA Presents! performing arts series, sponsored in collaboration with the Student Activities Council.

Professor Christine Condaris' world music class was the group's first stop last Thursday. Condaris said the class, one of the longest running in the music education department, often invites performers from the series into the classroom to present or work with students.

"It's really going to bring light to our class," said student Doug Champigny, just before the Watcha Clan's presentation.

Moments later, three of the four band members walked in toting some hand instruments and guitars.

The group includes Clement Queysanne of France, Nassim Kouti of Algeria, Mat "La Bess" Tomi of France. Missing was lead singer Sista Ka, also of France.

"In this class, we're learning about the ethnoculture of music, where it comes from and how it can change. This semester the students will do field work, interviewing ethnic musicians, as an ethnomusicologist would," Condaris said.

Kouti was the primary presenter of the group, beginning with an example of an Algerian music style called "raï" (pronounced RAH).

"World music is not only traditional music. The concept is changing. It's a mix between other cultures," Kouti said.

He used the 1999 hit "Desert Rose" by contemporary pop artist Sting, as an example of the evolution of raï vocalizations and instrumental styling.

Algeria was colonized by France in the 1830s, creating a mix of cultures, as well as a poor working and farming class.

"The farmers used to do music the way slaves in America created music while working in the fields," Kouti said.

Raï emerged in the 1930s, and further evolved as a popular way to express opinions on social issues.

Keyboardist and mixer Clement Queysanne said the group has done a few workshops while on tour, but said this was a rare opportunity to be in a classroom teaching a lesson.

"It's good. It's a good way to share and spread the music," he said.

In addition to visiting Condaris' class last Thursday, the group was scheduled to stop by professor Michael Dilthey's performance workshop class prior to giving an evening concert in the college's Venable Gymnasium.