Ear Expansion with Leila Bencharnia

In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton engages in an in-depth conversation with Leila Bencharnia about her artistic journey and deep connection to sound, rooted in her childhood experiences with her father, a prominent Gnawa musician. Leila explores how her early sound experiences were holistic and spiritually significant, contrasting with her later academic study of classical composition. She discusses how acousmatic music and sound system culture eventually guided her to merge traditional Gnawa music's spiritual and communal aspects with modern electronic and recording techniques. The conversation delves into her creative processes, emphasizing field recordings, non-linear time, and matrilineal influences that shape her unique sound installations. Leila addresses the political critiques embedded in her work, particularly concerning the Mediterranean migrant crisis and the deeply personal and communal impact of migration. Through a series of poignant reflections, she ultimately connects her practice to broader themes of human experience, spirituality, and resistance.