Gaïsha is a collaboration between Belgian-Moroccan singer Aïcha Haskal and exquisite musicians from the Belgian music scene, bringing you oriental & psychedelic grooves with a Brussels twist. Aicha Haskal’s voice is smooth and warm and switches seamlessly between Arabic chants, parlando and even rap. The diverse background of the musicians (Absynthe Minded, Sylvie Kreusch, Va Fan Fahre, Echoes of Zoo, De Beren Gieren) results in a brilliant melting pot of styles.
Growing up in a family where playing music was taboo for women, Aïcha was secretly part of the Brussels hip hop scene at the age of sixteen. She even participated in a contest on a Belgian television channel, equipped with a cap and standing with her back to the public. Unfortunately the gig came to her father’s ear and a few years of radio silence followed. At a later age she arrived in the masculin world of classical Arabic music. But Aïcha stood strong and due to her perseverance she is now the leading lady of Gaïsha.
After releasing the well received single ‘Ghalat / L’Amour Digital’ in 2022, Gaïsha revealed ‘Ana Aïcha‘, their first full album, in 2023.
Have a listen: biglink.to/ana-aicha
vocals – Aicha Haskal
guitar – Eduardo Vega (Antwerp Gypsy Ska, Proyecto Secreto)
bass guitar – Lieven Van Pee (Beren Gieren, Echoes of Zoo)
drums – Nico Leonard (Victor Rice Septet, Moon Invaders)
percussion – Falk Schrauwen (Sylvie Kreush, Echoes of Zoo)
organ/synths – Michael De Schryver (Va Fa Fahre, Proyecto Secreto)
violin – Renaud Ghilbert (Absynthe Minded)
Reviews
Ana Aïcha
What Gaïsha showcases in the ten tracks is incredibly danceable and mega funky. It’s as if the spirits of Serge Gainsbourg and Dick Dale meet in an Eastern bar and watch a blaxploitation film together. This music is the perfect soundtrack to set any party or festival on fire. – Luminous Dash BE
What a fabulous mix of influences from the Belgian-Maroccan singer Aïcha Haskal. With a few Belgian musicians, skilled on jazz – ska – latin tunes and percussion, she created an energetic spellbounding melting pot. – Keys and Chords
Ghalat / L’Amour Digital
Who is a fan of the music of Altin Gün, has a nice discovery with this new single from the Ghent based Gaïsha. – Indie Style
The rhythm, synths and groove seem western, but otherwise everything about this track exudes an eastern melancholy. And when Haskal switches to French, you imagine yourself somewhere in a shisha bar in cosmopolitan Paris. – Damusic
Sounds like: an Arab-psychedelic cracker with a pinch of funk and Serge Gainsbourg – Cutting Edge